Early Help 0-19 Practitioners (G-I grade) UNISON meeting
Time: Tuesday March 2nd 2022, 12:30 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89576862856?pwd=V2tVWG5NYjArN1N4K3BLVFhjQSsxQT09
Meeting ID: 895 7686 2856
Passcode: 222249
Barnet UNISON and GMB have been in talks with The Barnet Group over the last year to address the issues of unequal pay within The Group (more than 8 different sets of terms and conditions for people doing similar work). Barnet UNISON believes there may be Equal Pay issues when comparing a largely female workforce in The Barnet Group to the Council workforce where there is a largely male manual section of the workforce.
We want all Barnet Group workers to be on the same pay, terms and conditions as the Council workforce. The Barnet Group is wholly owned by the Council and performs as well as the Council and carries out the vast majority of its work on behalf of the Council, yet you are paid second class rates of terms and conditions.
The Barnet Group has reiterated its stance that it could not afford to pay those terms and conditions. Nonetheless both parties have been engaged in a discussion as to what can be done to improve the terms and conditions for the workforce.
A 2-step approach has been agreed. First to improve the offer of the TBG flex contract and then to offer this to TUPE’d staff. No one would be forced onto a TBG flex contract.
The areas The Barnet Group presented for discussion were:
We wanted to discuss:
Throughout the negotiations we requested information. We were particularly interested in the cost of the agency spend as we believe if the offer is attractive enough then there is a potential for the increase in the wage bill to be offset by the decrease in agency spend.
The Barnet Group is keen to implement the proposals if possible on the 1st April 2022. Both parties have committed to further negotiations to address the concerns of the TUPE staff once these proposals have been implemented.
Once we have exhausted this round of negotiations we will consult with all of our members to take the next steps. At this moment we anticipate this will happen late February. Please attend the AGM and all Branch meetings in order to be best informed and to make a decision.
Is the clue in the title: Manda “Tory” vaccines?
Health and Social Care settings are about to face devastating numbers of staff being sacked from those areas of work as mandatory COVID vaccines are introduced. 3rd February is the last day to have the first dose if you want to be covered by the time it becomes law.
Lobbying by our union, UNISON, and other organisations is going on apace in order to stop or delay this introduction. UNISON has always encouraged members to get vaccinated but has insisted this is a personal choice and is wholly opposed to it being made mandatory. Vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) for health and care workers (England) Frequently Asked Questions | health news | News | UNISON National
As many as 73,000 staff nationwide will be lost from frontline services. The loss of staff on this scale will inevitably pose a serious public health risk in itself.
In the last month Barnet UNISON has been trying to work out with Adults Social Care and Family Services who may be affected by the measure and who is not. Our position with the employer is that the guidance should be interpreted as generously as possible to keep colleagues at work and on the frontline.
What we can see now is that CQC regulated areas of activity are the ones which are affected. If you work in a setting where CQC inspections do not take place, but your employer is saying you must have the vaccine we need to know now. We therefore expect all workers in Family Services to also be exempt from the regulation. Please let us know immediately if this is not the case.
The current information would also strongly suggest that those colleagues in Adult Social Care carrying out assessments under the Care Act (provided they do not have to go in and out of a health care setting, care home etc.) are also exempt. We will update you further.
In the meantime, please do lobby your MP and participate in the National Day of Action for the NHS February 26th. Events – SOS NHS
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86903890148?pwd=eGN0azhGYjBRWVdzbS90UktFZzVPUT09
Meeting ID: 869 0389 0148
Passcode: 071903
The branch office will be closed from 2pm on Friday 24th December 2021 and will re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
If you have an urgent enquiry whilst we are closed, you can contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0 857 857.
UNISON Direct’s Christmas and New Year opening hours are:
December 24: 6am to 3pm
December 25 – 28: CLOSED
December 29 and 30: 6am to midnight
December 31: 6am to 3pm
January 1 – 3: CLOSED
January 4: normal hours resume. (Monday to Friday 6am to midnight, Saturday 9am – 4pm, Sunday closed) Webchat is available 9am -5pm
Further details regarding UNISON Legal Services, Regional Office contact details and Financial help can be located on the UNISON website by clicking the below link.
https://www.unison.org.uk/about/contact/
We would like to send our thanks to all the essential workers who will be working over the Christmas period and to all our members who have worked so hard to continue to deliver public services during yet another incredibly challenging year.
We wish you a happy Christmas and New Year.
|
One more Christmas/ Lyrics by Beau King Houston to be sung to the tune of ‘White Christmas’ by Bing Crosby.
(For the residents/Victims, friends & family, and staff members affected by the Apthorp Care Centre move 2021)
Verse 1
We were dreaming of one more Christmas
With the loved ones we used to know
But nobody listened
Then one decision
Meant we were left out in the cold
Verse 2
We were told we’d be secure this Christmas
You promised we were here to stay
Now our days just don’t feel as bright
Cos you chose to ignore our workers rights
Verse 3
We were dreaming of our last Christmas
Alas that wasn’t to be so
We were moved like cattle
No strength to battle
We lost our lives to save you dough
Verse 4
We lost the home we loved this Christmas
We miss the life we always knew
Try to affect change and be true
Know that one Christmas this could be you.
Click above image to watch the video
