Hundreds of staff who provide school meals to East Riding schoolchildren are to be balloted on industrial action over pay and working hours.

Staff say the private company which provides meals in more than 160 schools across the area is proposing to reduce working hours by ten per cent.

The company, Martin's Contract Catering, is also said to have refused a three per cent pay rise.

Schools affected include Woldgate School, Pocklington and Pocklington CE Infants School.

Chris Jenkinson, UNISON regional officer and spokesperson for the three unions, TGWU, GMB and UNISON, involved in the ballot, said staff were dedicated and had thought long and hard about possible industrial action, but felt the ballot had to be held.

The three unions have jointly written to all head teachers informing them of the dispute and apologising for any inconvenience. The industrial action ballot will commence in a few weeks after which a programme of action will be announced. A spokeswoman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said she was unable to comment because the matter was between Martin's and the unions representing the staff. No-one from Martin's Contract Catering was available for comment today.