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Farewell Bob – RIP
Last week our branch was contacted by members working at Flower Lane Autism Service to say that Bob had passed away in his sleep at the weekend.
I have known Bob for over 20 years he was one of the first UNISON reps I worked with in the old Barnet Social Services department back in the day.
Bob was much loved by his work colleagues and the service users. He was deeply compassionate man who loved his work and the trade union his energy and enthusiasm was infectious. I had the opportunity to witness Bob dealing with very senior managers about serious matters affecting members and I always believed that they found it hard to say no to him. He had that way about him.
Bod was always on hand to take up case work for UNISON members in distress, he didn’t like to see anyone in distress or being bullied he very much wore his heart on his sleeve.
Bob understood the importance of solidarity. He was directly involved in the two big outsourcing fights we had between 1997-2002 over residential and day services for older people and Home Care services. But it was his determination to stop the outsourcing of Learning Difficulties a year later that showed his true grit. This fight went on for over a year and eventually after all the effort the Council decided to keep the services in house. I don’t know if members really understood what Bob did during that time, but I was both honoured and impressed to have worked alongside him.
Over the years I saw less of Bob, but when I did it was if it was only yesterday we had last spoke. I could still see the passion for the job (even though he had retired he came back as an As & When) in his eyes.
I have recently spoken to a few staff who have worked alongside Bob and I understand that this news has really taken everyone one by surprise.
Bob Allan will always be associated with Flower Lane.
He will be sorely missed by staff service users and their carer’s as a kind generous man who gave everything he had to help others.
I am proud to have known Bob, solidarity Bob, Unison member and comrade.
Bob Allan RIP
UNISON School Group Appeal meetings
UNISON Family Services Social Care meeting
UNISON funding split 2016
GOOD NEWS: Nursery Nurse Grading Appeal success
Barnet UNISON is proud to announce that the Nursery Nurse Group Appeal whoch htook place on Thursday 18 May , 2017 under Unified Pay was a success.
The following message has been sent out to schools today 22 May 2017.
“Dear All,
Thank you for attending the Stage 2 Appeal held on 18th May 2017 for the roles of:
JE0444 – School – Early Years Educator (Nursery Nurse)
JE0581-Early Years Educator – Level 3
We can confirm that both appeals were successful and that the new grade for both posts will be Grade G.
We shall send revised contracts to all affected employees within 10 working days.
Kind Regards,
Unified Reward Team”
I want to first thank the work of Elaine and Beverley our long standing Nursery Nurse reps who were fantastic at the appeal hearing.
I also want to thank all of the Nursery Nurse members for helping provide the much need evidence to help win the Appeal.
The lesson is clear, we need active reps and members in all of our schools.
Now work begins on other Group Appeals.
Solidarity
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON
“Conscious Brutality”
These are the words Ken Loach uses to describe the proposed cuts to our last 2 Welfare Rights Advisors.
Shockingly this proposed cut is not about saving money! One of the biggest user groups of the service are those with Mental Health problems.
Of course it’s great that famous people are joining in to break the taboo of talking about Mental ill-health but what is the point if we just then kick these people in the face by removing access to an important service!
In-house, out-house? The Fate of Street Scene
No 2 Outsourcing
Barnet UNISON welcomes the proposal going to the Environment Committee Thursday 11th May at 6.30pm:
“That Environment Committee approves option E as set out in section 1.15 to 1.29 for the Street Scene Delivery Unit services including; recycling and waste, street cleansing, and green spaces maintenance (Lots 1-3) to revert to a full In–House service
That Environment Committee note and agree to the timescale, to revert to a full In–House service as set out in section 1.27, and agree that the Streetscene ADM project has concluded and that an implementation project will now commence”
Please join us in Hendon Town Hall on this historic occasion of watching an in-house model being proposed to our local councillors.
URGENT UPDATE “SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE” Update Welfare Rights
As a result of consultation we have now learnt that the two welfare rights advisor workers are not being sacked in order to make CUTS, they are being sacked because vulnerable families will get a better service without them!
Before I address the issue of why it is so wrong to sack the Welfare Rights workers I want to highlight this scene in Ken Loach’s BAFTA Award winning film “I, Daniel Blake”
This scene shows the daily humiliating life experiences people in need are facing.
I’m referring to this scene, because the Barnet Council proposal is to move away from helping to sign posting. It sounds good in the highly paid consultancy circle world. BUT the grim reality this is not just a cut for two workers it is a cruel cut that will deny access to the vital information, advocacy and support for the most vulnerable families in Barnet.
Before Barnet UNISON found out that this was NOT a financial saving, we would have referred the Council back to the uncontrollable Agency/consultancy worker costs which have gone from a round £7.3 million in 2012 to 19.8 million by March 2017.
“Why will this proposal cause hard to vulnerable families?”
In the past seven years there have been many changes in the way Advice in the London Borough of Barnet has been delivered.
The following organisations have either closed down or no longer do Welfare Rights Advice.
- Welfare Rights Unit (Barnet Council)
- Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has closed five of their offices (a) Avenue House (b) Grahame Park (c) Finchley (d) Edgware Hospital (e) Dollis Valley hub. Currently, the New Barnet Office is only open on Mondays morning and is due to totally shut in October 2017. The only remaining CAB is the Hendon one which is also only opened three days a weeks
- CAB also used to operate a home visiting service which has also ceased.
- Barnet Law Service (Dealt with Welfare Rights Appeals)
- Mary Ward Legal Services (Dealt with Welfare Rights Appeals)
- East Barnet Advice Services
- Disability Action in the Borough of Barnet
- Mencap (substantially reduced service since 2013) This service refer to the two Welfare Rights workers for Appeals and complex cases
- Jewish Deaf Association Barnet (substantially reduce services now drop in sessions only on Tuesdays morning for people with hearing impairment)
- Mind Barnet
- Due to the Legal Aid cuts no Solicitors in Barnet do Welfare Rights Appeals
The two Welfare Rights workers are the only service that still provides comprehensive/ impartial benefits Advice up to Appeals level in Barnet. Both statutory and non-statutory organisations refer to the two workers.
In consultation it has been put to Barnet UNISON that the service could be picked up by other organisations. What is clear is that the report does not appear to know what is being provided out there in our community.
Below are some of the organisation mentioned who could pick up the work left as a result of sacking the two welfare rights workers.
- Welfare Rights Task Force – Benefit Advisors only support clients affected by the benefit CAP and assist them with income and expenditure in order for them to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment
- Employment Advisors do not specialise on welfare benefits, their remit is employment
- Shelter specialise in Housing and debts. They do not provide Welfare Rights Advice
- DWP is unable to help the majority of our clients as there may be a conflict of interest. We support client in taking cases to the Tribunal against DWP. There would be a conflict of interest, should the DWP provide welfare benefits advice. Welfare Benefit Advice exists to ensure that clients are made aware of their legal rights and represented in the event of disputes and maladministration of benefits.
Next actions:
Barnet UNISON on Tuesday 9 May at the Family Services JNCC declared a ‘failure to agree’ in response to the proposed sacking of the two welfare rights workers.
The matter has now been escalated to a meeting chaired by the Chief Executive.
If the proposal to sack the workers is not withdrawn the matter will be raised at General Functions Committee on 28 June where we will address the Leader of the Council.
Links:
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2017/05/04/simply-unbelievable-update-welfare-rights/