Barnet Depot Workers Reject Holiday Pay Offer, Escalation Looms

Barnet Council workers in Waste & Recycling and Street Cleansing have voted overwhelmingly against the council’s offer to settle twelve years of unpaid holiday pay, and UNISON has now requested an urgent meeting with the council’s Chief Executive to try to resolve the dispute before it escalates.

For over a decade, holiday pay on overtime worked by staff in these services was miscalculated under a payroll contract run by Capita on behalf of the council. Since the council changed payroll provider in 2025, the calculation has been done correctly — proof the problem was always fixable, and that workers were shortchanged for years while nothing was done.

In a consultative ballot that closed this week, turnout was above 90% in both services, and rejection of the council’s offer was close to unanimous — 100% in Waste & Recycling and 96% in Street Cleansing. UNISON has asked the council to substantially improve its offer, and has written to the Chief Executive requesting an urgent meeting by 9 October 2026. If a fair offer isn’t forthcoming, the union will move to a formal ballot for industrial action.

“These workers have waited twelve years to be paid properly, in the middle of a cost of living crisis that makes every missing pound count. The council’s answer so far has been a fraction of what’s owed. Our members have rejected that fraction, and rightly so — the council needs to come back with a serious offer, or this will escalate.”
— John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON

“We’re writing in good faith, wanting a negotiated settlement. But the council’s offer has already been decisively rejected — 100% of those balloted said no. Members have been affected for years, some for over a decade, through no fault of their own. We’re asking the council for an offer that properly reflects the length of this underpayment and the loss members have suffered. That’s not too much to ask — the decision now rests with the council.”
— Dennis Moses, Street Scene Convenor, Barnet UNISON

Barnet UNISON represents over 3,000 members working for the London Borough of Barnet, The Barnet Group, Barnet Education and Learning Skills, and contracted services across the borough, including waste, cleansing, care, schools and council offices.

[Press contact 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk ]