FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNISON strike ballot of members working for Barnet Council opens today.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNISON strike ballot of members working for Barnet Council opens today.
Today UNISON, one of the UK’s largest trade unions, serving more than 1.3 million members, opened their strike ballot today.
The Trades Dispute with London Borough of Barnet is over staff remaining in employment with Barnet Council.
The ballot is a direct response to the five commissioning projects agreed at the 3 March 2015 Full Council which would mean outsourcing the majority of the workforce into a variety of alternative delivery models.
The Ballot opens 18th March and closes 8th April.
At the infamous Full Council meeting on 3 March 2015, the Conservative Administration voted through the decision to explore other options for directly delivering council services. The services involved are as follows:
· Libraries
· Adults & Communities
· Children’s Centres
· Street Scene services
· Education & Skills and School Meals
UNISON estimates that this will mean upwards of 80% of the workforce are likely to be working for a different employer. According to a recent Barnet Council committee report there are only 1,466 directly employed permanent staff.
UNISON Branch Secretary John Burgess said:
“In December 2014 our branch conducted a poll of our members which produced the following feedback. 87% of our members want to remain employees of the London Borough of Barnet. 61% of our members said as a result of knowing they could be outsourced they are seriously looking to find employment elsewhere; 96% of our members expressed concern about being outsourced and 81% of members said morale was bad in their workforce. Feedback from the Poll and subsequent UNISON meetings reconfirms our members wish to remain Council employees which is why we are recommending a Yes vote in our strike ballot.”
Notes to Editors.
Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or 0208 359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk
Background:
1. Barnet Full Council 3 March 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCOl8-Z-1vA&feature=youtu.be
2. The legal questions raised by One Barnet
3. The One Barnet case heralds local government’s disappearing act
4. Strike ballot as Tory-run Bromley council plans to dramatically slash its workforce