Barnet UNISON Guilty as charged

Barnet UNISON Annual General Meeting is on 12 March 2014, as part of our democratic process of electing officials the branch has written to all of our members about the personal and political attack on our branch.

Extract of the letter here

We are guilty of robustly representing our members which has upset our Council.

We are guilty of representing our members who have been outsourced through the mass privatisation One Barnet policy.

We are guilty of representing our members in restructures, redundancies, re-gradings.

We are guilty of representing our members at disciplinary meetings, sickness absence meetings and grievances hearings.

We are guilty of being there for members when no one else was prepared to listen.

We are guilty of supporting members trying to cope with or change unhealthy, stressful workplaces.

We are guilty of not keeping silent when our member’s terms & conditions are being attacked.

We are guilty of exposing the ongoing reliance and waste of taxpayers’ money on expensive consultants.

 

You can read the letter in full here http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/6%20Letter%20-%20facility%20time.pdf

A Political attack on our democratic right to belong to a trade union

Have you heard about the Lobbying Bill?

It’s the Bill that charities and unions have been campaigning against because it will gag civil society from campaigning at election time.

But did you know that part of the Bill could allow the government to see details of union membership?

It’s the Bill that charities and unions have been campaigning against because it will gag civil society from campaigning at election time.

But did you know that part of the Bill could allow the government to see details of union membership?

Part Three of the Bill is a specific attack on trade unions by the Government. It not only ties up union membership systems in red tape, but risks the confidentiality of union membership lists.

IT’S NOT NEEDED. The law already makes unions keep accurate membership lists and use independent scrutineers to run elections and ballots. If unions get something wrong then members can complain to the government appointed Certification Officer.​

MORE PEOPLE COULD HAVE ACCESS TO MEMBERSHIP LISTS. The new law will also let employers raise complaints. Membership lists will be made open to the Certification Officer, a Membership Assurer (chosen from a government nominated list) and any investigators appointed after a complaint.

This will worry many people. Whilst most people are happy to be open about union membership, many will be deeply concerned about the risk that bad employers could find out what they should be able to keep secret.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about union members being blacklisted. The last thing the government should be doing is giving the state and employers even more access to union membership lists.

This is an attempt to bully & intimidate members and potential new members of trade unions.

Our branch is also facing a personal and political attack on our ability to organise and represent our members.

I’ve just joined an anonymous petition to Andrew Lansley asking him to stop this dangerous proposal.

I am asking all of our members to join it and encourage them to ask their friends and family to sign it as well.

Click on this link here

http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/anonymous

Thanks

John Burgess

Branch Secretary

 

Barnet UNISON

Our branch is now under serious threat by the actions of our council who are targeting key UNISON reps in our branch in order to try and silence what is going on. It is our view the proposed removal of facility time is in effect a form of de-recognition of the trade unions. It is an attack on our democratic right to organise and represent our members.

Our branch is at the centre of a battle of political ideology & dogma where Public = Bad and Private = Good.

££££Millions of public money has been spent on consultants and lawyers to implement the now infamous One Barnet mass outsourcing programme.

We will continue to do our utmost to robustly support and defend our members in the workplace.

Our branch we will not be bullied into submission.

 

2013 was a significant year for our members and our branch and below are some highlights of the issues faced by our members.

January

Capita update to Council staff working in NSCSO & DRS services http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1137

Feedback from Tripartite meeting on Monday 28 January

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1164

February

Barnet UNISON Press Release: STOP the Privatisation of our Regulatory Services

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1179

March

Beware the “Ides of March” One Barnet Social Care Experiment is not working

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1181

Why Barnet UNISON is supporting BarnetSpring March

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1170

URGENT UPDATE Your Choice Care Workers

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1183

UNISON ‘Your Choice’ up date report

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1182

One Barnet “My worst fears” – by John Burgess UNSON Branch Secretary

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1185

Your Choice Care Workers Campaign update 17 March 2013

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1188

Barnet Spring or was it Winter march?

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1192

Barnet Spring video http://youtu.be/TnJXFLULrU8

397 jobs “The true cost of One Barnet outsourcing”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1196

April

“Your Choice was never Our Choice!” – A New Campaign is Launched”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1199

“Victory, Victory how does 400 redundancies equal victory?”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1210

May

UNISON write to Leader of Barnet Council about Judicial Review

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Letter%20to%20Leader%201%20May%202013.pdf

UNISON write to Chief Executive about Judicial Review

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Letter%20to%20Chief%20Executive%201%20May%202013.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ‘Capitaville’- Capita to takeover more Barnet Council services.

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1224

10 steps to learn more about One Barnet

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1222

Update list of Barnet Council services down for outsourcing

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1084

“We didn’t have a Crystal Ball but we did have Dexter!” – Your Choice Care Workers

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1226

Your Choice Care Workers Campaign – The Facts

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1227

June

Barnet residents and Barnet Labour Party submit 133 questions on the DRS Capita takeover proposal

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Barnet%20residents%20Capita%20takeover%20questions.pdf

“All that glitters is not gold” – One Barnet Capita Symonds contract under scrutiny.

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1229

Stan Davison a Barnet Legend ‘Rest In Peace’

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1230

UNISON responds to Capita proposal to move jobs out of the community

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/2013%2006%2025%20UNISON%20response%20to%20Capita%20final%20measures%20letter.pdf

Top Ten stories in London Borough of Capita (formerly known as Barnet).

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1238

July

The fate of Barnet Council 600 jobs in the balance

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1243

Top Ten Commissioning failures

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1244

The Privatisation juggernaut – Five Public services targeted by privatisation lobbyists

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1250

Campaign Against the Destruction of Disability Support Services (CADDSS) produce response to Your Choice proposals http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/CADDSS%20analysis%20.pdf

August

“A day in the life of a coach escort in the London Borough of Barnet”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1253

Consultation with Capita Symonds begins

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1254

“Why are the government attacking the workers and their union?

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1255

September

Barnet residents organise funeral procession for Barnet Public Services

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1258

Austerity launches another vicious attack on low paid female workers in Barnet Council

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1252

“I Found Myself Just Crying” – Your Choice Barnet

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1263

London Living Wage for Barnet Council staff.

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1264

Barnet Council publish Capita contract

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1268

October

“From hard working families to ‘scroungers’ – Capita redundancies

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1272

UNISON respond to Council may be forced to outsource additional services, warns leader”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1274

CAPITA – KEEP OUR JOBS IN BARNET – Community Petition

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1282

UNISON call on Capita to reverse mass redundancies in Barnet

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1273

November

Public meeting “BONFIRE AGAINST AUSTERITY AND PRIVATISATION”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1283

£20.5 million lost to frontline services and jobs!

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1295

UNISON response to Your Choice Task & Finish report

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/UNISON%20response%20to%20Task%20and%20Finish%20Report.pdf

“Outsourcing services for adults with disabilities is not working in Barnet”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1303

December

Speech of the Year: “Living with a disability in the London Borough of Barnet”

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1311

Latest attack on UNISON by a Conservative councillor

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1310

Barnet Council proposal to remove all facility time for trade unions

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1307

 

To view update click here

Conservative Councillor Gordon speaking at Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee 27.11.2013

Video clip is here http://youtu.be/ko-QvCBAMCY

Below is a transcript from the above video clip.

I minute into this video he starts…….

“theres a huge trade union input into what is going on into the objections. Whereas we live in a free society and people are entitled to express their views there’s no doubt that some of the views have been expressed in a very sincere and genuine & personal way and I would also endorse that mood by members of the committee. I am very sceptical about the trade union input because we know…we know unions have their own agenda which is a political agenda and are known …unions are known to have a left wing agenda…I suspect that whereas there are some very genuine criticism to be made a lot of those criticisms are a little bit politically motivated. I will view them in that rather suspicious way.

Updated Key Facts

UNISON have been informed the LBB annual Council staff pay bill 2013/14 (excluding schools) is approximately £55,000,000

The current Trade Union Facility Time (UNISON & GMB) cost for 2013/14 is £112,000

The proposed cut of £80,000 in Trade Union Facility Time for 2014/15 leaves £32,000

The Trade Union Facility Time as % of pay bill in 2013/14 equates to 0.20%

The Trade Union Facility Time as % of pay bill in 2014/15 equates to 0.06%

The reduction of 80K for 2014/15 from 112K represents massive 71.4% cut from the current (2013/14) budget.

Trade Union Facility time has already been cut by 66% from the level agreed under the former Barnet Council Conservative Leader Mike Freer.

On 1 April 2014 all facility time will be removed from Barnet UNISON.

Today our branch were informed that staff received letters today which stated:

“The Board considered our proposals on 12 November 2013 and agreed that, in view of the on-going financial pressures on the organisation, that enhanced payments for weekend, bank holiday and night working be removed. 

I am therefore writing to confirm that, following Board approval, the original proposals of 1 March 2013 to remove enhanced payments for weekend, bank holiday and night working will be implemented from 1 January 2014.   Enhanced pay will continue for Christmas Day only along with a payment for sleep in duties.”

What about the financial pressures for our low paid care workers, this will do nothing to aid retention of high quality care staff.

 

Councillor Robert Rams speaking at Budget Scrutiny 26.11.2013

Video clip is here http://youtu.be/-7dTF6Kmej8

Below is a transcript from the above video clip.

“ I come from a completely different standpoint on this I think that they should be able to do their job without any funding whatsoever ….I think there are lots of examples of councils, authorities across London across the country that provide no funding for activity and I believe we should be moving to a model were we don’t provide any funding for union activity, I think as I stated before if we are looking to make cuts out there, there are some difficult decisions, I think it is clear area  we can make even more savings, the proposals provide a generous amount of funding, over generous in my personal view towards the service I think as we go forward and tougher decisions are made we will get to the point where we will remove all funding.………………………

I don’t think the work they do needs to be funded by us, they do some excellent work and as I said they are some other authorities I organisations across London, but trade unions provide an excellent service to their members by no means do I denigrate their work the unions do, they provide an excellent service to their members……….I think there is enough ability for them to do it whilst carrying on doing their work for the council”

Key Facts

 

• UNISON have been informed the LBB annual Council staff pay bill 2013/14 (excluding schools) is approximately £55,000,000
• The current Trade Union Facility Time cost for 2013/14 is £112,000
• The proposed cut of £80,000 in Trade Union Facility Time for 2014/15 leaves £32,000
• The Trade Union Facility Time as % of pay bill in 2013/14 equates to 0.20%
• The Trade Union Facility Time as % of pay bill in 2014/15 equates to 0.06%
• The reduction of 80K for 2014/15 from 112K represents massive 71.4% cut from the current (2013/14) budget.
• Trade Union Facility time has already been cut by 66% from the level agreed under the former Barnet Council Conservative Leader Mike Freer.

 

 

UNISON request Capita to withdraw their proposals

Dear Capita

I have a major concern regarding the lawfulness of the proposals to make employees redundant in the forthcoming TUPE transfer. Individuals who are made redundant will clearly be dismissed for a reason connected with the transfer which will be automatically unfair unless there is an economic, technical or organisational reason entailing a change in the workforce for the dismissals.

Whilst redundancy consisting in a reduction in head count may constitute such a reason the EAT in the case of Abellio London Limited v CentreWest London Buses UKEAT/0283/11has held that place of work redundancy does not. The forthcoming dis­missals will therefore be unfair and I therefore invite you to withdraw the proposal to dis­miss.

Best wishes

John Burgess

Branch Secretary

 

Barnet UNISON