“Agency Worker mystery – How many jobs are there?”

UNISON has for the last three years been chasing the Council about transparency about agency figures in order that staff at risk of redundancy are able to have an opportunity to find employment and avoid compulsory redundancy.

Every Friday those council staff art risk of redundancy receive a Redeployment Bulletin. At any one time there may be advertised up to 40 jobs. However, on average at least 50% of these jobs are often in schools.

The Council has a statutory duty when there is a risk of redundancy or a TUPE transfer to provide trade unions agency worker details.

This information is also provided at local industrial relations meetings otherwise known as Area Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committees (JNCC’s)

The last Agency worker list provided to the Trade Unions reported a total of 552.  This figure has been broken down into the following service areas:

·         Adult and Social Care – (85)

·         Chief Executive Services (84)

·         Children’s Services (89)

·         Commercial Assurance (32)

·         Corporate Governance (2)

·         Deputy Chief Executives Services (49)

·         Environment Planning & Regeneration (211)

UNISON has been informed this does not mean that there are 552 vacant posts which are all being filled by Agency workers. However UNISON has been trying to establish how many of these posts are covering actual permanent posts (including fixed term) which could be filled by a member of staff who is at risk of redundancy.

Any UNISON members at risk of redundancy who are concerned that they are not accessing internal job vacancies please contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk