“It’s started!”: #BarnetStrikers all out strike action has begun today.

BREAKING News from the Barnet UNISON picket line. All-out strike action by our Council Housing repairs service has started.

 

  1. Please send messages of solidarity to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

  1. Anyone, no matter where you live can sign this campaign email, simply click on the link https://forms.office.com/r/EdEZkAh7Cv
  2. If you can’t make the picket line send Solidarity video message to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Barnet Repairs All-out strike began Monday 17th October.

Daily picket lines 7.30-8.30am, Grahame Park Housing Office 17-19 The Concourse NW9 5XA

9-10 am Leafleting outside Barnet Council Head Office 2, Bristol Avenue, NW9 4EW. Nearest tube is Colindale tube station.

Rush messages of support to: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

End.

 

More BREAKING NEWS! Barnet UNISON Repairs Dispute

The Barnet Group has just announced in writing that they will not be using agency staff to cover work being done by the strikers. This contradicts what colleagues reported they were being told by their managers throughout the week and what we understood from the ACAS talks today.

The news is welcome and at least indicates The Barnet Group does not want to be seen to make the situation worse.

“We are pleased The Barnet Group has clarified this issue on agency staff. It would have been a travesty for The Barnet Group to be using agency staff to break a strike and would not have helped improve industrial relations.”

A fuller video statement will be released soon.

The Barnet Repairs strike begins Monday 17th October and is all out.

Daily picket lines 7.30-8.30am, Grahame Park Housing Office 17-19 The Concourse NW9 5XA

9-10am Leafleting outside Barnet Council Head Office 2, Bristol Avenue, NW9 4EW. Nearest tube is Colindale tube station.

Rush messages of support to:

contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Donations: xxxxx

End.

Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk

 

Background:

1. Breaking News: ACAS Talks Fail To Make The Barnet Group See Sense in Repairs Dispute

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/10/14/breaking-news-acas-talks-fail-to-make-the-barnet-group-see-sense-in-repairs-dispute/

2. Breaking News: ACAS Talks Fail To Make The Barnet Group See Sense in Repairs Dispute

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/10/14/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-strike-starts-monday-17-october-2022/

3. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/30/breaking-news-barnet-unison-obtain-ground-breaking-support-from-unisons-national-industrial-action-committee-iac/

4. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-100-vote-for-all-out-strike-action/

5. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

6. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/05/barnet-responsive-repairs-workers-referred-to-unisons-industrial-action-committee/

7. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/21/barnet-council-repairs-operatives-100-turnout-and-100-vote-for-strike-action/

8. Barnet Council’s Company Refuse to Show Compassion for Injured Worker https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/barnet-councils-company-refuse-to-show-compassion-for-injured-worker/

***Updated: Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers strike starts Monday 17 October 2022.

Update: Agency staff will not be used to break our strike please read our updated Press Release here

More BREAKING NEWS! Barnet UNISON Repairs Dispute

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/10/14/more-breaking-news-barnet-unison-repairs-dispute/

Breaking News: ACAS Talks Fail To Make The Barnet Group See Sense in Repairs Dispute

UNISON has suggested several ways this dispute can be resolved during the ACAS talks. None of the proposals were accepted by The Barnet Group. The only offer The Barnet Group made was to offer to increase the injured colleague’s debt.

The Barnet Group prefers seeing incensed colleagues take unprecedented all out industrial action; try to break the strike through bullying, intimidation and hiring expensive agency staff; and not repairing people’s homes because they want to stick to a principle.

That principle is not paying a worker injured at work sick pay when he was 3 weeks away from signing a contract which would give him sick pay. Our demand all along was for the injured worker to have that pay reinstated in some shape or form. Nothing more nothing less.

His colleagues and UNISON prefer to show solidarity and in these hard times we prefer to stand by a colleague so that he receives sick pay. As one colleague said: “That could have happened to any one of us”.

We have approached the new Labour Council to do something. After all Barnet Council owns The Barnet Group 100%. We hope they will intervene and insist The Barnet Group does the right thing by this worker, his colleagues and Barnet Council tenants.

“These workers were applauded as heroes throughout the pandemic. They stuck together for Barnet residents. Now they need our help as they stand shoulder to shoulder with a colleague injured at work who then received no sick pay. Every day we are impressed that these workers are so determined to fight for what is right. It is an absolute travesty that The Barnet Group thinks the principle of not paying sick pay is worth defending. Today, at ACAS we heard of instances where The Barnet Group has taken a compassionate response to sick workers and has paid more than a worker was contracted to receive. Why would they not do so here? What message does this send to the wider workforce and residents?” (Helen Davies, Branch Chair Barnet UNISON).

An injury to one, in this case, is indeed an injury to all!

 

The Barnet Repairs strike begins Monday 17th October and is all out.

Daily picket lines 7.30-8.30am, Grahame Park Housing Office 17-19 The Concourse NW9 5XA

9-10am Leafleting outside 2, Bristol Avenue, NW9 4EW. Nearest tube Colindale tube station.

Rush messages of support to:

contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Donations to the Barnet UNISON Industrial Action Fund Account Email the branch for details contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

End.

Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk

Background:

1. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/30/breaking-news-barnet-unison-obtain-ground-breaking-support-from-unisons-national-industrial-action-committee-iac/

2. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-100-vote-for-all-out-strike-action/

3. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

4. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/05/barnet-responsive-repairs-workers-referred-to-unisons-industrial-action-committee/

5. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/21/barnet-council-repairs-operatives-100-turnout-and-100-vote-for-strike-action/

6. Barnet Council’s Company Refuse to Show Compassion for Injured Worker https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/barnet-councils-company-refuse-to-show-compassion-for-injured-worker/

 

 

 

Meet Patrick: Barnet UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary for The Barnet Group

Meet Patrick

This is Patrick doing what he always does speaking up for his members.

Patrick is a long-standing Barnet UNISON member and the Assistant Branch Secretary for our members working for the Barnet Group. Patrick works in social care as a mobile warden.

Anyone who has met Patrick will say that he cares passionately for all the members he represents and the services that they provide.

Last year Patrick represented our 70 pus care workers who were made redundant on 31 October following the decision by Barnet Council to close Apthorp care home. You can read more on this closure on our web site here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2021/09/28/8234/

It would be fair to say that this mass dismissal of care workers had a profound impact on Patrick who sat in with each one of them. Some of whom Patrick would have known for over 25 years.

More recently Patrick has been representing members working for Barnet Council Housing Repairs team who will shortly be starting strike action on Monday 17 October 2022.

You can read the details of the dispute on our web site here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-100-vote-for-all-out-strike-action/

On Friday 30 September 2022, the employer The Barnet Group issued a statement cutting his facility time by 40%.

Patrick is committed to his members and will not let this stop him from trying to represent his members.

There are many people, not just Barnet UNISON members, but Barnet residents and the wider trade union movement who all respect Patrick for the work he does for his members.

Solidarity Patrick

End.

1. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/30/breaking-news-barnet-unison-obtain-ground-breaking-support-from-unisons-national-industrial-action-committee-iac/

2. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-100-vote-for-all-out-strike-action/

3. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

4. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/05/barnet-responsive-repairs-workers-referred-to-unisons-industrial-action-committee/

5. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/21/barnet-council-repairs-operatives-100-turnout-and-100-vote-for-strike-action/

6. Barnet Council’s Company Refuse to Show Compassion for Injured Worker https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/barnet-councils-company-refuse-to-show-compassion-for-injured-worker/

3 simple actions supporters can do for our #BarnetStrikers

UNISON President Andrea Egan

 

Dear Supporter

If you are shocked at the treatment of our member who was injured at work and refused sick pay during the worst cost of living crisis in 75 years, then you can help our campaign

We have three requests

1. Sign this email statement.

Barnet Trades Council have set up an email which will be sent to the three key decision makers:

Barry Rawlings Leader of Barnet Council

John Hooton Chief Executive of Barnet Council

Tim Mulvenna Chief Executive The Barnet Group

Click on the link below and follow the instructions

https://forms.office.com/r/EdEZkAh7Cv

2. Visit our social media sites and leave messages of support

 

3. Send message of support to Barnet UNISON at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

For more information about the background to our dispute check our the following articles on our web site

Background:

1. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/30/breaking-news-barnet-unison-obtain-ground-breaking-support-from-unisons-national-industrial-action-committee-iac/

2. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-100-vote-for-all-out-strike-action/

3. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

4. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/05/barnet-responsive-repairs-workers-referred-to-unisons-industrial-action-committee/

5. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/21/barnet-council-repairs-operatives-100-turnout-and-100-vote-for-strike-action/

6. Barnet Council’s Company Refuse to Show Compassion for Injured Worker https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/barnet-councils-company-refuse-to-show-compassion-for-injured-worker/

 

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