FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 January 2026 Your Choice Barnet care workers demand fair pay, fair terms and access to LGPS — “time to end this injustice”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 January 2026
Your Choice Barnet care 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 adult social care through Your Choice Barnet, including staff on YCB contracts and “TBG Flex” contracts.
The union says the claim is aimed at ending a long-running “two-tier workforce”, where care and support workers delivering publicly commissioned services are not on council terms and conditions and do not have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
What Your Choice Barnet workers are demanding (from 1 April 2026)
The claim, submitted for the 2026/27 period, includes:
PAY
An increase of £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) across pay points/rates
A £15 per hour minimum rate for all staff
Applied consistently to overtime, sleep-ins/unsocial hours payments, enhancements, allowances and other pay-related payments, with no detrimental changes to existing arrangements
TERMS & CONDITIONS
A two-hour reduction in the standard working week with no loss of pay, implemented in a way that protects service users and staffing levels Harmonisation to a standard 36 hour contract
One additional day of annual leave
ENDING THE TWO-TIER WORKFORCE
A commitment to move Your Choice Barnet staff onto equivalent core terms and conditions to Barnet Council/NJC standards
A single, transparent pay structure with clear progression, equality-proofed arrangements, covering all staff including those on TBG Flex contracts
PENSIONS
Access to the LGPS, including a route-map meeting with stakeholders (TBG, Barnet Pension Fund/LBB as administering authority, and UNISON), and no detriment to staff
Barnet UNISON has requested a formal negotiation meeting and has given management four weeks to respond.
“Care 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:
“Your Choice Barnet staff provide vital care and support to vulnerable adults, yet many are treated as second-class compared to council employees delivering public services. Keeping care workers outside council terms and conditions and excluding them from the Local Government Pension Scheme is unfair — and it amounts to exploitation of a predominantly low-paid workforce.
“This is London, one of the most expensive cities in the world. People who deliver life-changing care should not be forced to do so on worse terms and without a proper public service pension.
“It’s time to end this injustice. Barnet UNISON’s claim is straightforward: fair pay, fair conditions, and access to LGPS for the care workers who keep services going every day. We are calling on The Barnet Group to negotiate seriously and reach a fair settlement.”
Notes to editors
- Your Choice Barnet delivers adult social care services on behalf of the London Borough of Barnet and is part of The Barnet Group.
- Barnet UNISON represents care and support staff across Barnet, including staff employed by The Barnet Group and its subsidiaries.
- The claim applies to Your Choice Barnet staff, including those on TBG contracts and “TBG Flex” contracts.
Contact
For more information, interviews, or to support the campaign:
Barnet UNISON – contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
End.