The university should review its handling of the Catering changeover
Category: Catering
Voting closed
The university has recently given notice to the current catering providor, Cordia, that it is terminating the contract to provide the catering services on campus. The staff in the catering facilities are employed by Cordia, and not by the University, making it likely that the majority of staff will lose their jobs during the changeover.
The university should make clear its position and what safeguards it is implementing to look after the staff who are affected by this change of contract. The university has kept relatively quiet on the subject, but the mainstream media have picked up on the change, leading to widespread concern and damage to the wider GCU brand. Just a few such articles are listed below:
- http://stv.tv/news/west-central/1372024-university-branded-heartless-as-catering-staff-face-axe/
- https://caledonianunion.com/2016/11/04/a-dark-day-for-the-university-for-the-common-good/
- http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14828013.Glasgow_Caledonian_University_catering_staff_want_answers/
It is my opinion that the university should have a clause in the new catering provider's contract that it will take on, or at the very least offer interviews for positions to, the existing staff who are working for Cordia on the campus. This will both provide reassurance to GCU staff and students, as well as to Cordia staff about what is happening with the catering. It will also help to protect GCU's image in the wider area, which has suffered damage by the handling of the contract change already, and is likely to cause further damage if the university continues to claim that it takes no responsibility for Cordia's staff.
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Comments
While it's not the university fault directly, it would indeed be nice that they encourage the new company or companies to interview current employees, but wouldn't want to force them to hire back the old staff as they might have different standards etc.
I think the starting point for any public institution is to ensure that when they are making business decisions, that any equality impact assessment is equally applied to the structure of labor. If the university can afford an empty campus in New York, I suspect that they can extend a reasonably condition of employment to some of the lowest paid workers in Scotland. The services sector, according to our own universities Women in Scotland Economy research hub are more likely to be living in poverty, suffering underemployment. Where they have children, this also impact upon their quality of life. The reality is that this is the universities responsibility, by consciously entering into a tendering process with an organisation who engage in outsourcing workers from agencies is part of the problem.
The food and service provided by the canteen in the University is not of high standard and I feel this could be improved. Therefore, I agree with the decision to hire a different company to fulfill this role. Business is tough and if you do not meet the requirements of those who you work for then you lose your jobs. However, it is a good idea to interview the past employees and give them a chance as some may or may not want to work for a different company and it would mean GCU would get the staff it believes suit best to work with the students and staff at the University.