FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 January 2026 Barnet Homes housing workers demand fair pay, fair terms and access to LGPS — “time to end this injustice”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 January 2026
Barnet Homes housing workers demand fair pay, fair terms and access to LGPS — “time to end this injustice”
Barnet UNISON has submitted a formal Pay and Terms & Conditions claim to The Barnet Group (TBG) on behalf of workers delivering Barnet Homes Housing Services in the London Borough of Barnet.
The claim seeks to end what the union describes as a long-running “two-tier workforce”, where staff providing essential council housing services through the local authority trading company are not on Barnet Council terms and conditions and do not have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Barnet UNISON says it believes these are the only housing workers in London delivering council housing services who remain outside council terms and conditions — and that the situation is now untenable in a city facing extreme housing and cost-of-living pressures.
What Barnet Homes housing workers are demanding (from 1 April 2026)
The claim, submitted for the 2026/27 period, includes:
PAY
A pay increase of £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) across pay points/rates
A £15 per hour minimum rate for all staff
Uplifts applied consistently to overtime, enhancements, allowances and other pay-related payments
TERMS & CONDITIONS
A two-hour reduction in the standard working week with no loss of pay
One additional day of annual leave
ENDING THE TWO-TIER WORKFORCE
A commitment to move Barnet Homes staff onto equivalent core terms and conditions to Barnet Council/NJC standards
A single, transparent pay structure with clear progression covering all staff, including those on TBG Flex contracts
PENSIONS
Access to the LGPS, including agreement of a route-map and timetable with relevant stakeholders and no detriment to staff
Barnet UNISON has requested a formal negotiation meeting and has given management four weeks to respond.
“These workers are being exploited in one of the most expensive cities in the world”
Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair and UNISON SGE representative, said:
“Barnet Homes staff deliver vital housing services for residents, yet they are treated as second-class compared to council colleagues. Excluding them from council terms and conditions and the Local Government Pension Scheme is unfair and it has gone on for far too long.
“This is London — one of the most expensive cities in the world — and these workers are being asked to keep services running without the pay, protections and pension that should come with public service work. That is not right.
“It’s time to end this injustice. Our claim is clear: fair pay, fair terms, and access to LGPS for all Barnet Homes housing workers. We are asking The Barnet Group to do the right thing and settle this claim properly.”
Notes to editors
- Barnet UNISON represents workers providing housing services through Barnet Homes, part of The Barnet Group.
- The claim covers Barnet Homes staff, including those on TBG contracts and “TBG Flex” contracts.
- The union is calling on housing workers to get involved and support the campaign.
Contact
For more information, interviews, or to support the campaign:
Barnet UNISON – contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
End.