Message from Barnet UNISON Members: Staff Parking Charges – We Want to Hear from You

Austerity, Local, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Dear Barnet UNISON Members,

Barnet UNISON is asking for your feedback on Barnet Council’s latest proposal to reintroduce parking charges for staff at Colindale from 1 October 2025. We believe this proposal is not only unfair and unjustified in the current economic climate, but also ignores the pressure staff are already under from rising living costs, stagnant wages, and ongoing cuts to services.

We urge all members to read our latest article:
👉 Money for Agency Companies and Capita – But Not for Our Members or Services

This article outlines how the Council continues to divert millions of pounds to private agencies and contractors like Capita, while claiming it cannot afford to support its own staff. Now they want staff—many on modest wages—to pay up to £900 a year just to park at work.

Let’s be clear: this is a pay cut by stealth, and it will hit low-paid workers and disabled staff the hardest.

We want your feedback

Please send us:

  • Your thoughts on the proposal
  • Anonymous quotes we can use in our response
  • Any alternative proposals you want the Council to consider (e.g. banded rates by income, daily capped rates, or free parking on days when public transport is not viable)
  • Specific impacts on disabled colleagues, carers, and those who rely on driving due to limited transport options

Barnet UNISON’s response

We are strongly opposed to this parking charge proposal and will be tabling a formal response to the Council. Our key concerns include:

  • Inequality: This policy disproportionately affects lower-paid and disabled workers, particularly those without realistic alternatives to driving.
  • Cost-of-living crisis: Members are already struggling with food, fuel and housing costs. Charging for parking is adding insult to injury.
  • Service impact: Staff morale and retention will suffer, especially in frontline services where staff are expected to come in frequently.
  • False economy: The Council claims this will not raise income, yet continues to waste millions on outsourcing and agency staff, instead of investing in its own workforce.

We believe parking for essential workers should be free or affordable, especially where public transport is not a safe or accessible option.

Please email us or speak to your local rep with your feedback. All responses will be anonymised unless you state otherwise. We will be tabling member comments as part of our submission to the Council.

Let’s make sure our voices are heard. This affects us all.

 

In solidarity,
Barnet UNISON.