Parking Heroes “It ain’t over till it’s over”

Of all the UNISON members who took strike action it is the Parking Enforcement members who symbolise a fighting spirit which the UNISON Pension campaign will need if we are to stop the attacks to our Pensions.

This is a workforce that faces verbal and sometimes physical abuse on a daily basis. They have been told to forget strike action there is no turning back, yet on Tuesday 75% of the Enforcement workers came out on strike.

Tuesday 18 October should be renamed FREE Parking day in Barnet

Here they are

 

“Dear Colleagues

A big thank you to everyone who took part in the strike action on Tuesday 18 October.

A special big thank you to our excellent in-house photographers and our own in-house Film Director who has already produced two short videos with more to come.

I am enclosing a thank you letter from Larches Community the organisation we supported after picket line duty which you can view here

As I have said many times before, taking strike action is never an easy decision to make. Our branch has made a commitment to provide as much support and advice to all of our members.

Lastly I want to apologise for the not providing an update earlier I hope the wait was worth it.

Photographs

Please find UNISON pictures on our Barnet UNISON Flickr account ALL can be viewed here or here http://www.flickr.com/photos/28819825@N02/sets/72157627931108726/

Radio

On Tuesday we managed to be interviewed live on Radio Four Programme You & Yours (1.4 million listeners) you can listen to the brief interview (2mins) here or here http://www.flickr.com/photos/28819825@N02/6260819671/in/photostream

Video

Finally you can view our street theatre, which provided a Star Wars satirical view of the One Barnet programme. Well done to the actors taking part.

You can view their performances here

Best wishes

John Burgess

Branch Secretary

Today UNISON members in Parking took strike action.

They want to remain council employees. Many of them have had experience working for private sector parking contractors and had bad experiences.

 

Barnet UNISON Press Release: 17 October 2011

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNISON MEMBERS TO TAKE STRIKE ACTION & ASK COUNCIL TO DONATE MONEY TO CHARITY

 

300 UNISON members will be taking one day strike action On Tuesday 18 October as part of a Trades Dispute which concerns the identity of the employer.

 

Unlike other strike action there is a twist.

 

On the picket line outside the headquarters of Barnet Council (north London business park) UNISON members will stage a short piece of street theatre to demonstrate the dangers of One Barnet Programme to residents, services and staff.

 

There will be two performances at 9am and 9.30 am.

 

At 10.30 am a number of strikers will be taking a coach trip across the borough in order to provide help and assistance to a local charity which is desperate need of help. The strikers will spend the rest of the day carrying a number of tasks for the charity.

 

UNISON members are calling on the Leader of Barnet Council not to pocket the money he has saved from the strikers and instead donate that money to the Mayor’s Charity

• Barnet Young Carers And Siblings ‘BYCAS’
• The Outward Bound Trust
• The Alzheimer’s Society

 

Later on the same day other UNISON members are supporting ‘Operation RESDIENTS MUST KNOW!’ by handing out newspapers and leaflets to Barnet residents outside tube stations across Barnet.

 

The day’s activity will end with a Candlelight Vigil outside Hendon Town Hall from 6.30 pm before the Planning Committee begins.

 

Barnet Easy Council is promoting the ‘One Barnet Programme’ (OBP) which is being rolled out across all council services. They previously identified up £3 Million to implement what was called Future Shape policy. The latest brand One Barnet programme has £9.2 million budget to pay the bills of expensive consultants to carry out this mass outsourcing programme. The workforce implications of OBP could be that 70% of the council workforce could be transferred to the Private sector in little more than 15 months time.

 

John Burgess Barnet UNISON Branch Secretary said

 

“The Council is gambling that the private sector can deliver £100 million savings over the next 10 years. We have seen no evidence to substantiate these claims. In other parts of the country we have seen the consequences of such blind allegiance to public sector bad private sector good. Our members are not daft; they can see that redundancy and cuts to jobs and services are behind the transfer from the council to a private sector contractor’

 

Strike action is always a last resort, for the last three years we have been asking for a genuine dialogue with the council to explore ways to save money, improve services.

 

Barnet UNISON is asking for the One Barnet Programme to be put on hold whilst meaningful talks with staff, trade unions and residents take place to look at alternatives to the One Barnet Programme.

 

End.

 

Contact: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk

 

Background

 

Information:

Barnet Easy Council gained notoriety in 2009 when they launched the budget airline model for public services. In 2010 the model was criticised in a report by the external auditors as having failed to draw up a proper business plan. The business case produced by Barnet easyCouncil supports the policy direction promoted by Prime Minister which seeks to break state provision (in this case privatise council services) and offer the Voluntary & Private Sector to run public services. 

 

Useful Links

1. What is One Barnet? – Residents newspaper ‘Our Barnet’

http://barnetalliance.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/baps_2_aug_2011-page-011.pdf

http://barnetalliance.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/baps_2_aug_2011-page-011.pdf

http://barnetalliance.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/baps_2_aug_2011-page-041.pdf

2. Audit report slams Barnet Council over MetPro scandal

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/9070396.Audit_report_slams_council_over_MetPro_scandal/

3. Analysis of Development and Regulatory Services Business Case, London Borough of Barnet

http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/analysis-of-development-and-regulatory-service/

4. Financial review of Business Case Report for Barnet Borough Council Unison

Branch

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Report%20to%20UNISON%20on%20DRS%20Business%20Case_0.pdf

5. Metronet http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8544491.stm

6. PFI contracts poor performance

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14574059

7. Rip off Government IT contracts

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmpubadm/715/715i.pdf

 8. Public service reform … but not as we know it!

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/public-service-reform-but-not-as/

9. Pickles attacks Barnet Council

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2011/07/pickles-attacks-barnet-council.html

10. Barnet UNISON STRIKES BACK VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhUmnNPhGYs

 

 

 

There is a growing group of UNISON members who have an alternative theory as to what is really going on in Barnet Council. They believe that UNISON must strike back at the Galactic mass weapon aka One Barnet.

They are demanding the branch affiliate to the ‘Rebel Alliance Barnet’ (RAB) in what they see as the battle for Little Barnet.

‘Luke UNISON’, ‘Hans ‘off’ our Barnet’ along with the RAB believe Barnet residents are still not fully aware of the implications of the Mass privatisation secret weapon known as “One Barnet”. The reason for residents not understanding One Barnet is due they claim to the lack of transparency by ‘Emperor Outsourcing’ and his side kick ‘Darth Barnet.’

RAB believe the Council has already been infiltrated by Storm Companies (aka Storm Troopers) aided by the ‘Sith’ aka as ‘The Consultants’. The Sith through mind control have convinced the council they have only one options, ‘One Barnet outsourcing’ the Storm Companies are intent on bidding for services and once obtained will systematically asset strip them.    

A clue to the rapacious appetite of the Storm Companies was recently revealed at a Conference last month by someone called Ed Milliband. RAB are not yet sure whether they have his support, but that is another story!

We are seeking allies.

Can you send messages of support to UNISON members strike back against the One Barnet programme and the Sith.

You can view RAB intergalactic message here

Please send messages of support to john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk

BARNET UNISON STRIKES BACK: TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER

 

UNISON members taking strike action last month. We have found a way in which all our members can show support for those taking strike action on Tuesday 18 October.

Barnet UNISON is asking if you are not part of the groups taking part in the action show your support by wearing something green or purple (UNISON’s colours) on the day (trousers, shirt, tights, jumper, tie, scarf, cardigan, hat etc).

John Burgess Branch Secretary has offered to dye his hair purple on 18 October, what will you do?