Dinner ladies seek compensation

Dozens of former dinner ladies are taking Essex County Council to court over claims they were not paid redundancy when their jobs were axed.

Their jobs went in April when the council decided not to renew the central meals contract for some primary schools because it was too expensive.

The council said the staff transferred to the employment of Scolarest which took over the service at some schools.

But Scolarest claim responsibility for a settlement lies with the council.

Regional officer for the union Unison, Michelle Bradley, said the dinner ladies were caught in the middle of a wrangle over which organisation was responsible for terminating their contracts.

Ms Bradley said she was confident the 23 Unison members and a handful of none-union members would win their case.

The tribunal is expected to take place next year.