FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Barnet Group workers vote for strike action over poverty pay

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Barnet Group workers vote for strike action over poverty pay

13 October 2026

Care workers and housing workers at The Barnet Group have voted for strike action, with 88% voting yes on a 55% turnout, well above the 50% the law requires.

The workers are employed at Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet, both owned by Barnet Council. They provide housing and care services to Barnet residents. These services were once run in house by the council. They are now delivered by workers on inferior contracts, often alongside council staff doing similar jobs.

The ballot seeks to end that two tier workforce.

UNISON is asking for:

  • a 36-hour week, down from 37.5 (40 for repairs staff)
  • 31 days annual leave
  • council overtime and night rates
  • council sick pay
  • talks on a single, transparent pay structure
  • access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
  • annual NJC pay awards written into contracts
  • the new London Living Wage paid when announced in October, not the following April
  • a joint review adopting council policies wherever they are better

The Barnet Group has refused every part of the claim and has been unwilling to enter proper negotiations. Staff are angry and morale is low. With food, energy and rent costs still rising, many say they are struggling to get by on what they earn.

At Labour conference on 29 September, Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke of care workers “caring for other people’s parents on poverty pay”. He said he wants “care that is about people not profit”. Care workers employed by a council owned company are on exactly that poverty pay.

Care worker, Your Choice Barnet: “I look after people who can’t look after themselves, then worry about my own gas bill. Council staff doing the same job get better sick pay and a pension. We just want the same.”

Housing worker, Barnet Homes: “We help residents who are struggling, and many of us are struggling too. People voted because they’ve had enough of being treated as second class.”

Helen Davies, Branch Chair, Barnet UNISON: “This is a clear result, and our members are confident. Nobody wants to strike, but The Barnet Group and Barnet Council have left us no choice. We are asking them to sit down and negotiate properly, starting now.”

Strike dates will be announced unless meaningful talks begin.

End.