Barnet launches major Equal Pay action spanning council and LATCs — ‘EasyCouncil’ faces first London-wide test case

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Barnet launches major Equal Pay action spanning council and LATCs — ‘EasyCouncil’ faces first London-wide test case

Barnet UNISON has today submitted three collective grievances triggering a borough-wide Equal Pay claim across the London Borough of Barnet, The Barnet Group (TBG) and Barnet Education & Learning Service (BELS) — the council’s two wholly owned arm’s-length companies (LATCs).

Branded “EasyCouncil” during its peak outsourcing years, Barnet now faces an Equal Pay challenge that cuts across council services and its LATCs, echoing the ground-breaking 2023 Glasgow decision confirming that local authority trading companies are not a shield against Equal Pay liability where the council is the single source capable of rectifying pay inequality.

Helen Davies, Branch Chair, Barnet UNISON, said:
“Women in Barnet’s schools, care and community services have waited long enough. We’ve now filed Equal Pay grievances with all three employers because the evidence is overwhelming — and because LATC status doesn’t make discrimination disappear. If Southampton, Sheffield and Birmingham can settle multi-million-pound claims, so can Barnet.”

Barnet UNISON’s case covers multiple strands including task-and-finish uplifts, Christmas bonus payments, DLO payments, and pension access issues for LATC staff. The union is seeking a negotiated, borough-wide settlement framework that treats council and LATC workers consistently, rather than siloed processes.

A fast-growing national picture

Barnet’s action lands as councils across Britain confront Equal Pay liabilities:

  1. Southampton City Council – Settlement agreed (July 2025) for ~800 staff; task-and-finish disparity.
  2. Sheffield City Council – Agreement (Sept 2025): ~3,600 staff / ~260 roles; ~£36m redress.
  3. Birmingham City Council – Framework to settle (Dec 2024) following Section 114.
  4. Coventry City Council – ~680 claims ongoing (2025); >£30m exposure; ET listed Nov 2026.
  5. Brighton & Hove City Council – Claims lodged/flagged (2024–25), thousands indicated.
  6. Bradford MDC – Legal action launched (July 2025) for female-dominated roles.
  7. Knowsley Council – Union warns of “tens of millions” exposure (Oct 2025).
  8. Leeds City Council – Unions inviting case forms (2024–25).
  9. Derby City Council – Ongoing disputes; >£1.5m spent defending cases.
  10. BCP Council – Corporate papers flag equal-pay litigation risk (2024–25).
    Scotland:
  11. Glasgow City Council – Continuing settlements/updates (2023–25); key LATC precedent.
  12. Fife Council – Tribunal success reported (July 2022); further claims lodged.
  13. Falkirk, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire – Equal-pay disputes/strikes (2024).

Helen Davies added:
“This could be the first of several London Equal Pay cases. Barnet helped pioneer outsourcing; now it should lead on putting pay equality right — across the council and the companies it owns.”

Call to the employer

Barnet UNISON has invited the Council, TBG and BELS to enter a Memorandum of Understanding for structured negotiations covering data disclosure, scope, timelines and remedies, so staff don’t wait years for justice.

Media contact:
Barnet UNISON – contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Notes to editors:

  • Recent settlements referenced include Southampton (UNISON South East), Sheffield (Sheffield City Council), and Birmingham (City Council/union statements).
  • Barnet UNISON represents staff employed by Barnet Council, The Barnet Group, and BELS.
  • The Glasgow (2023) Equal Pay outcome reinforced that council-owned LATCs can fall within the single-source test for Equal Pay liability.