Month: November 2025

What grade am I on – and how does it link to National Pay?

Austerity, Membership, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

*Above are Barnet Council Grades as from 1 April 2025*

Barnet UNISON published the London Borough of Barnet pay and grading structure from 1 April 2025 (Grades A–M and senior grades 8–1, showing the minimum and maximum salary for each grade).

But we know a lot of members still ask:

  • What grade am I actually on?
  • What does “minimum” and “maximum” mean?
  • How do I move up within my grade (and when do I move up a grade)?
  • How does this connect to the National Pay Award?

How the grades work (in plain English)

1) Your grade is attached to your post (job), not to you as a person.
Barnet uses a job evaluation scheme to decide which grade a post sits in. The grade has a pay range (a minimum entry point and a maximum “fully competent” point). (barnet.moderngov.co.uk)

2) Movement within a grade is progression up the pay range.
Progression takes you from the lower end towards the top of your grade. Barnet’s Pay Policy has described progression within grades A–M as linked to performance levels until you reach the top of the grade. (barnet.moderngov.co.uk)

3) Moving up a grade usually means changing the job, not “time served”.
In most cases, the way you move to a higher grade is by getting a higher-graded post (promotion/restructure), or by a formal job evaluation/re-grading process if the job has genuinely changed.

4) National Pay affects your salary even though Barnet has local grades.
Local government unions negotiate a National Pay Award, and Barnet then applies the uplift to the local pay structure—this is why you’ll see Barnet UNISON publishing updated grades “including the National Pay increase”, often with backdating to 1 April. (barnetunison.me.uk)

How to find your grade quickly

Most members can find it on one (or more) of these:

  • your contract / statement of particulars
  • your job description or advert for the role
  • your payslip / HR portal (where it lists grade or salary details)
  • by asking your manager/HR (and if you hit problems, contact the union)

Book a Barnet UNISON Grade Briefing for your workplace

Barnet UNISON can organise a short “Grade Briefing” for your team in a school, depot, office or service — in person or online.

In the session we can cover:

  • how Barnet’s grades A–M and 8–1 work (min/max pay)
  • how progression works within a grade (and what to do if it isn’t happening fairly) (barnet.moderngov.co.uk)
  • how the National Pay Award feeds into Barnet grades and backpay (barnetunison.me.uk)
  • what to do if you think your grade is wrong (re-grading/job evaluation routes)
  • Q&A on payslips, overtime rates, part-time/term-time issues (where relevant)

To book a briefing, email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk or call 020 8359 2088 with:

  • workplace/service (e.g. school, depot)
  • preferred format (in-person/online)
  • a couple of suggested dates/times
  • approximate numbers attending

Barnet UNISON contact details: Room 1.9, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 4EW.

End.

 

 

 

 

Back dated pay delivered for our members –

Local, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Barnet UNISON has secured confirmation from London Borough of Barnet (LBB) that agency workers in Street Scene services are due to receive their backdated National Pay Award money in their payslip at the end of November 2025.

LBB paid the backdated award to directly employed staff in the August payroll, but concerns were raised with us that agency workers had not yet received the back pay they were owed. Barnet UNISON immediately contacted the Council, and we have now received clear confirmation from LBB that the backdated payment should be made to agency workers in the end-of-November 2025 payslip.

This is about fairness — and it’s about putting money where it belongs: in workers’ pockets. In a cost-of-living crisis, every pound matters, and Barnet UNISON will keep pushing to make sure nobody is left behind because of their employment status.

Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair, said:

“This is really welcome news for agency workers in Street Scene services. Barnet UNISON acted quickly, raised the issue directly with LBB, and we’ve now secured confirmation that the backdated pay should be in the payslip at the end of November 2025. At a time when bills are still rising and our members are feeling the strain, we will keep working relentlessly — year in, year out — to put more money back into members’ pockets and make sure people get what they’re owed.”

If you’re an agency worker in Street Scene and your payslip at the end of November 2025 doesn’t reflect the backdated pay, contact Barnet UNISON straight away so we can escalate it.

End.

 

Barnet UNISON secures London Living Wage to be paid now not next April for our APCOA members

Austerity, Local, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Barnet UNISON has secured an early win in our campaign to get the new London Living Wage (LLW) of £14.80 paid immediately across outsourced Barnet Council services — not delayed until April 2026. Following our branch’s letter to contractors delivering council services, Parking Enforcement contractor APCOA has confirmed they will implement the new LLW rate now. (barnetunison.me.uk)

This is exactly why Barnet UNISON keeps pushing, every single year: when pay rises are delayed, it’s low-paid workers who carry the cost — through higher rent, higher bills, and higher food prices — while services rely on their dedication every day. (barnetunison.me.uk)

Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair, said:

“This is really welcome news for our members. It shows what collective pressure can achieve — when we push, employers move. In a cost of living crisis, workers can’t be told to wait months for money they’ve already earned in rising prices. Barnet UNISON will keep going, year in, year out, to make sure pay rises reach our members’ pockets as soon as possible.”

Barnet UNISON will now continue pressing other contractors to follow APCOA’s lead and implement the LLW uplift without delay, because our members — and Barnet’s services — can’t afford to wait. (barnetunison.me.uk)

End.

 

UNISON General Secretary election has started -USE YOUR VOTE

National, News, UNISON Campaign

There are only two candidates to vote for in this election.

Barnet UNISON reps nominated Andrea Egan their reasons are set out above .

We are in the biggest cost of living crisis in 77 years.

Our members need strong leadership to win pay campaigns and to end outsourcing.

Please use YOUR VOTE.





For more details about the Election see below.


Ballot Papers


The despatch of ballot paper(s) to individual members will begin on 28 October 2025.


The ballot pack will consist of:


    

  • a covering letter from the union
    • 

  • a booklet containing the candidates’ election addresses and a full list of nominating bodies
    • 

  • ballot paper(s)
    • 

  • a return envelope.
    • 



Where members have previously requested materials in a special format (for example in large print), they will automatically receive the ballot pack in that format. Any additional requests should be made to the ballot helpline.


Ballot Helpline


If individual members have not received a paper by 11 November 2025, they should contact the ballot helpline via UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.


Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968.


If callers can have their membership number to hand when calling, that would help.


The latest that members can request a ballot paper is 19 November 2025 in order to ensure members have the opportunity to vote in time.


Please note that the ballot helpline can only deal with queries from individual members. If branches believe there is a widescale problem with receipt of ballot papers amongst their members (for instance if whole departments or geographical areas have not received ballot papers) then the branch should contact the Member Liaison Unit via elections@unison.co.uk.


Result and close of ballot


The deadline for receipt of ballot papers by the scrutineer is 5pm on 25 November 2025.


The result of this election will be announced on 17 December 2025.


Eligibility to vote


All full members who are on the union’s membership register as of 28 July 2025, will be entitled to vote in this election.


Members not on the membership register on 28 July 2025 will not be able to vote. 


End.