The Larches Trust is offering a free online musical theatre course every Friday at 10am.
If you, a member of your family or a friend has a learning disability and you would like to find out more about this course, please email
courses@larchestrust.org.uk for further information. The charity also invites anyone interested in helping to get in touch.
March 4th at 4pm Time off has been requested from all employers
I don’t think we ever imagined circumstances where as trade unionists we would be facing such wide scale interventions involving potentially life or death decisions. The pressure on the whole branch, which is not an abstract thing – it’s our members and reps – has been intense and continues to be so.
Nonetheless it is you and your engagement which has enabled reps to keep on doing what they are doing and to meet with some success. There is so much more to do though…
We need you to attend our Annual General Meeting in order to make key decisions for the correct running of our branch. If we fail to meet as per rules we will fail to exist and we will not be able to continue to support you.
We have confirmed our zoom account will let in up to 500 people so there will not be a problem for those of you who wish to attend. However, this time you MUST register in advance. This is because the AGM is a member only event and for voting purposes we need to confirm those attending are our members.
You need to make sure when you attend we can identify you, therefore if you know your image in the meeting will appear with “Galaxy” or “i-phone user” rather than your name you need to change this to your real name before you enter the meeting otherwise you are likely to be denied access.
Here is a guide on how to use Zoom
If you still require assistance on how to use Zoom please contact the Branch Office by email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Barnet UNISON is the 2nd fastest growing branch in the Greater London region according to last year’s figures. We welcome our new members. We have also seen a much greater number of colleagues agreeing to become reps which is incredibly important. This growth has been critical in our attempts to keep us all as safe as possible. In order to keep going we need you to attend our AGM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcocOGvrjMsGtAYwZn7i5kEeqIy-PS8euKU
Whether you have been working throughout the pandemic, been furloughed, working from home, self-isolating or something else, Barnet UNISON understands the impact this may be having on your or a colleagues mental health.
Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. Below are details about websites and organisations to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
Able Futures
Able Futures can help you manage your mental health at work so you can enjoy more good days. If eligible they provide you nine months advice and guidance from a mental health specialist who can help you learn coping mechanisms, build resilience, access therapy or work with your employer to make adjustments to help your mental health at work.
Call Able Futures free on 0800 321 3137 from 8am to 10.30pm, Monday to Friday or apply online.
Nafsiyat
Nafsiyat is an intercultural therapy centre, committed to providing effective and accessible psychotherapy and counselling services to people from diverse religious, cultural and ethnic communities in London.
We currently offer intercultural therapy to people living in the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Enfield and Haringey. This therapy is short-term only, but available at no charge.
To access this therapy, you need either to be referred to us, for example by your GP, or you can apply to refer yourself.
NHS Every Mind Matters
Visit the NHS Every Mind Matters website:
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
Urgent support
If you are having thoughts of suicide, are harming yourself or have thought about self-harm, it’s important to tell someone.
These thoughts and feelings can be complex, frightening and confusing, but you do not have to struggle alone.
If you cannot wait to see a doctor and feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, contact one of the organisations below to get support right away. Or see further NHS advice on dealing with a mental health crisis or emergency.
Free 24-hour listening support
When life is tough, Samaritans are here to listen at any time of the day or night. You can talk to them about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult.
Call free on 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website
Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when you need immediate assistance.
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 or visit Shout Crisis Text Line
Urgent, non-emergency medical advice
If you need help urgently but are not at risk of death or serious illness, use the NHS 111 non-emergency advice online.
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
People with hearing problems can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) service.
Crisis support for young people
If you are under 35 and feel that life is not worth living any more, call Papyrus’s HopelineUK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends.
Call HopelineUK on 0800 068 41 41
Text 07786 209697
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason.
Call 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Free, anonymous webchat with trained staff
Dial 999
In a life-threatening emergency, phone the emergency services and ask for an ambulance.
When to call 999
When to get help from your GP
It’s important to seek help from your GP immediately if you are experiencing the following symptoms for the first time or are not already receiving care from mental health services/
If you live in England, in most areas you can also refer yourself for free, non-urgent NHS psychological therapy services, also known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) services, which provide evidence-based treatments for depression and anxiety.
Services remain open during the coronavirus pandemic, so do seek professional help if you think you need it.
UNISON’s National Schools Committee and representatives of UNISON’s FE committee met with Department for Education (DfE) and NHS Test and Trace officials on Tuesday 22nd December to discuss the Government’s plans for mass testing of school staff and pupils in secondary schools and colleges in England in January. Amongst a host of issues the committee highlighted concerns about the reliability of the proposed tests, numbers and roles of staff that would be involved, potential increased workloads, full training, availability of appropriate PPE, face coverings and the roll out of the programme to Primary and Special Schools.
In particular the committee made clear that whilst we support the use of mass testing in schools, that due to concerns with the high rate of false negative lateral flow test results , this test should not be used as an alternative to self-isolation of close contacts and bubbles following conformed Covid cases. The British Medical Journal, World Health Organisation, Royal Society of Statisticians and Royal College of Pathologists have all warned that these tests can miss a substantial proportion of cases and should not be used alone to identify the infection. Additionally, government figures from a mass testing pilot in Liverpool in over 5,000 people without symptoms showed that up to half of positives were missed, which included up to 30% who had high viral loads and so had a higher risk of infecting others. Recent press reports have also suggested that some of these community based pilots may be suspended whilst further analysis is carried out.
Therefore UNISON calls on the DfE not to rush ahead with programme in January, but to work with schools on a sensible timetable. It is also vital that the Department amends its mass testing guidance to make clear that schools should use testing only as an ‘additional’ measure to identify potential asymptotic cases and not as an alternative to self-isolation of all close contacts and bubbles. DfE communications should also explain that the lateral flow test cannot confirm that an individual has not been infected with Covid-19, as this could lead to a false sense of security by people who test negative, which could lead them to unintentionally spread the virus.
We also call on the DfE to advise schools to continue on-line learning in January beyond the first week currently proposed. Full re-opening should only commence when schools and local public health authorities are satisfied that local infection rates are at levels which make it safe for staff, pupils and communities to return. We continue to call on government to rapidly expand the provision of laptop and internet access to ensure that all pupils have access to online learning.
UNISON’s schools committee previously agreed that:
Happy New Year! – Good Riddance to 2020!
Barnet UNISON holds first Branch Meeting of 2021
Barnet UNISON Emergency Branch Meeting 6th January
Barnet UNISON should have increased its zoom account so that more than 100 people could join!!!
Our apologies to all those trying to get onto the call but couldn’t because we only had a capacity of 100. We will be holding another meeting and we will increase the capacity!
We believe the intention of this lockdown is to stop people circulating more than necessary in order to radically reduce the rates of infection. Therefore any work being undertaken which is not absolutely necessary will contribute to the spread of the infection and puts us all at risk.
The Government’s message is being interpreted in all kinds of ways which means, for example, that School A only has a handful of children attending and School B has 60 children attending. We want to help you ensure the wider community stays safe by stopping the more generous interpretation of what the Government is saying.
Key messages from the meeting:
The levels of COVID infection rates means that the NHS is on the brink of breakdown. This means anyone who becomes critically ill may not get the care and attention they could have expected during the summer and further risks people being exposed to life changing disability or death. Both of these outcomes are significant not just for the individual concerned but for their family and friends. This is the context against which we have arrived at our position.
We began the meeting with one minute silence in memory of our members who have died during this pandemic and those who have suffered bereavements.
We acknowledged that the lockdown probably would not have happened by Monday had the trade unions – notably the education trade unions – begun organising their members to send in section 44 letters stating that their workplaces were not safe.
Locally Barnet UNISON had a zoom meeting for nursery workers on Sunday 3rd January and half an hour after the end of the meeting the head teachers of the maintained nurseries were announcing closure of those sites due to receiving letters from staff expressing their concerns and stating they would not be attending their place of work.
Nationally at the same time the NEU held an online meeting with an attendance of 400,000 to get the same message across to its membership.
Those who participated in those actions can be proud of the role they played in getting the Government to act more swiftly to protect all of us.
Please join the UNISON meeting for members employed by Capita or Regional Enterprise
Tuesday 9 March 2021
12 noon
Or call in (audio only)
+44 20 4526 5795,,517972409# United Kingdom, London
Phone Conference ID: 517 972 409#
Dear member
No surprisingly anxieties are running high with respect to the opening of schools etc from Monday morning.
We have a Government insistent on exposing workers to high risk of COVID to save face.
Nonetheless workers are wondering what they should do for the best.
The one thing we can offer is a safe space for colleagues to discuss their options and decide for themselves what they want to do.
I appreciate not everyone will be able to join in this zoom meeting but at least if we offer this early on in the day it gives an opportunity to contact others if we want to or need to.
Happy New Year everyone and see whoever can make our zoom meeting Sunday 3 January 2021 at 11am,
Solidarity
Barnet UNISON is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BEYA TU zoom meeting
Time: Jan 3, 2021 11:00 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting details below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87042293661?pwd=cE5Qbng3bHlyb1hlaERaMHlLa211dz09
Meeting ID: 870 4229 3661
Passcode: 481058
Dear Members
Barnet UNISON has had too many cases of members contacting us about payroll issues.
It is really important that you get the correct pay for the work you have done.
One of the biggest issues is understanding the pay slips.
I am pleased to announce that Street Scene are introducing monthly sessions with Pay roll.
These sessions will be run by the Capita HR Payroll Team.
The first session will take place on 10 February in the Pacific Room between 12:00pm and 14:00pm by appointment only.
The sessions will be for individuals to speak directly to payroll via a private video call.
Appointments will be available in 15 minute slots.
How to book a session?
You can book a session in advance by:
Your supervisor will then make your booking on your behalf and let you know the time.
Now is the time to make sure you take up this opportunity to get answers to some of the questions you have about your pay and your pay slip.
If you want a UNISON rep with you please let us know what time your session is booked in order we can sit down with you in the meeting.
Telephone 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Solidarity
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON
On Monday 30th November, 2020 at the Children, Education & Safeguarding Committee agreed to a savings proposal that moved the line management of Passenger Escorts from Barnet Council to the latest outsourcing organisation Barnet Education Learning and Skills (BELS).
This decision had not been discussed with the workforce. This service consists of a driver and a passenger escort. This proposal seeks to move from single line management of both staff to two line managers with the added complexity that the line manager for passenger escorts is not a Barnet Council employee.
Both UNISON and GMB objected to this decision and as you will see so did the workforce.
Over 90% of coach escorts signed the following statement
“Dear Mr Hooton
I have been told that as from 1 January 2021 I will no longer be managed by an employee of Barnet Council.
I was never asked for my opinion about this proposal.
I have worked through COVID and I continue to do my best for the children under very stressful circumstances because I love my job.
I don’t do this for the money.
I want to put on record that I want to be managed by a Barnet Council employee.
Signed”
Hi John
Mary and I are writing to you on behalf of all coach escorts about the decision to move their line management from Street Scene to Barnet Education and Learning Service (BELS).
Last week we both attended five meetings with our members (coach escorts) working for Passenger Transport and the BELS over the decision to transfer the line management of the coach escorts from Street Scene to BELS.
Unfortunately what may have seemed like a decision that would have no impact on the staff we have to report that this is not the case. If we had been consulted about this proposal we would have advised you of the likely impact such news would have on this workforce.
This is a low paid female workforce.
They are a frontline workforce that have been working out in the COVID workplace with all the stress that brings regardless of what a Risk Assessment may state about being COVID secure.
It is to their credit that they like many low paid staff get on with the job. If you and members of your senior management team have ever spend time with this workforce, which we have both done over the years, you will have been left in no doubt that their commitment lies with the children they accompany on behalf of Barnet Council.
Both Mary and I have been involved with this service over many years and in that time staff have seen changes to line management of the service.
UNISON and GMB have been regularly meeting with the operational management of this service for over five years and in that time we have seen things improve for drivers and coach escorts.
Almost two weeks ago the trade unions were contacted to attend a meeting where we were told that the line management was being handed to BELS.
The reaction from both trade unions and later the membership, was why?
Why is a two person team being split and handed over to another employer?
It is really important to understand that many of the staff have been around for a long time and have witnessed groups of Council workers first being split from their original service only to find out later they are being outsourced.
Barnet Council like it or not has a reputation for outsourcing services to a variety of different employers. These different employers offer new staff inferior Terms and Conditions with no access to LGPS.
We have a recent example of BELS (formerly Mott MacDonald), where the workforce were unaware of what was going on behind the scenes with Mott MacDonald and Barnet Council were suddenly plunged into uncertainty and stress at the announcement that Mott MacDonald wanted to terminate the contract.
As you know the majority of staff wanted to return to Barnet Council. Many of our members across our respective trade unions commented how unfair it was that workers were carrying out the same role but one had access to the LGPS and the others did not. This inequality was exacerbated was made worse by the fact that senior managers with joint appointment contacts, which provides entitlement to LGPS, were promoting the BELS model and against the in-house model.
It is within this backdrop of this recent decision and the news of this transfer of line management that members across PTS are speculating this is the first stage of an outsourcing agenda.
In the five meetings which took place last week staff they have been told the reason for the decision to change the line management is to enable the service to become more streamlined and to improve communication. Both Mary and I were unaware there were any issues. It would have been helpful to have been informed of these concerns.
In terms of having a more streamlined it would make more sense to bring the SEND service back in-house to Family Services, in that way we would have one organisation responsible for delivering this service just as it is in many local authorities across the UK.
This is why I have coach escorts asking if this is the first step before a TUPE transfer to BELS and now our drivers are also feeling threatened that they could be TUPEd to an external contractor.
It is important to add that in the meetings when it was raised senior management for LBB and BELS have all stated this decision is not about outsourcing.
However due our Councils recent history of outsourcing many fear this decision is an indication there is going to be a return to outsourcing in response to Government’s announcements about local government pay freezes.
Over the last ten years low paid staff have been made to pay for Austerity and it should be no surprise to you and that of your senior management team that they fear that it is coming back for them.
Our members have repeatedly asked us what they can do. They don’t want to be transferred.
UNISON and GMB agreed that we would write to you and the senior management team responsible for this decision.
Please find attached a statement signed by almost every coach escort. The engagement of this workforce on this matter should provide an indication of the strength of feeling about this transfer and their wish to line managed by a Council employee.
Stay safe.
Best wishes
John Burgess
Branch Secretary.
Barnet UNISON
Nafsiyat Reflective Sessions by London Borough of Barnet
While 2020 has been a momentous year for many reasons, the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter movement has been seen by many as a turning point that has encouraged people to speak out, call out discrimination when they see it, and fight for a more equal and just society. Here in Barnet, the council has also made a series of commitments to ensure equalities and diversity are at the forefront of our decision making, for residents and for staff.
And we know that so many of you have a lot that you want to say, and share with colleagues. That’s why we have begun a new partnership with Nafsiyat, an organisation established in 1983 to ensure that the diverse religious, cultural and ethnic communities in London could access culturally appropriate psychotherapy and counselling services. It was the first therapy centre in the country to take account of the cultural background of the patient and therapist and recognise its importance.
So we are introducing, from next week, a series of ‘reflective sessions’. These will be group sessions for up to 10 people. Their aim is to allow staff to reflect, particularly on the Black Lives Matter movement and how it may have affected them, but also more widely on the society in which we live and discrimination that they may have faced. The sessions are open to staff from any ethnic, cultural or religious background and should be considered a ‘safe and confidential space’ to talk about anything.
Book your place on one of the session times below here. All sessions will be run on Zoom:
Monday 7th December 12:30-13:45
Friday 11th December 11:00-12:15
Friday 22nd January 11:00-12:15
Monday 25th January 12:30-13:45
Friday 19th February 11:00-12:15
Monday 22nd February 12:30-13:45
To book a session please click on the below link
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nafsiyat-reflective-sessions-tickets-131324371731
