URGENT Street Cleansing meeting 5.45-6.15 am Weds 26 March 1st Floor Depot.
To view flyer click on the link below
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025.03.21-STREET-CLEANSING-CONTRACT-CHANGE-1.pdf
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Our message for our lowest paid members
Depot workers welcome guest speaker on Injuries at Work
Barnet UNISON depot workers welcomed special guest speaker from Thompson’s Solicitors.
The guest speaker spoke about the free services for UNISON members provided by Thompsons.
The main part of the discussion was around reporting accidents at work.
Depot work environment.
In any depot, where loading and unloading, bending and stretching defines the day, the importance of reporting accidents cannot be overstated.
For depot workers, whose labour is physically demanding, even seemingly minor incidents can have significant consequences. A sprained ankle dismissed as a “little twist,” or a cut brushed off as a “scratch,” can escalate into serious, long-term health issues if left unreported.
Reporting accidents is not about assigning blame; it’s about safeguarding wellbeing. It’s about creating a culture where a worker feels empowered to speak up without fear of reprisal. When an accident is reported, it triggers a chain of events designed to prevent recurrence. It allows for a thorough investigation, identifying potential hazards and implementing corrective measures. This not only protects the individual involved but also their colleagues, fostering a safer working environment for everyone.
Moreover, prompt reporting ensures access to necessary medical attention and support. Early intervention can significantly reduce recovery time and prevent complications. Ignoring an injury can lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, and even permanent disability, impacting not only a worker’s livelihood but also their quality of life.
Ultimately, reporting accidents is a fundamental act of self-preservation. It’s an acknowledgment that a worker’s health and safety are paramount, and that their wellbeing matters. In the demanding environment of a manual depot, where physical resilience is crucial, reporting every incident, no matter how small, is a vital step towards ensuring a safe and healthy working life.
Barnet UNISON will use our #DepotWednesday meetings to remind and encourage our members to work safely and report, report and report.
End.
Four more days to register for Barnet UNISON AGM
Depot Wednesday: Injured at Work
To view flyer click on link below
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/5-March-Injury-At-Work-meeting-1.pdf
Depot Wednesday: Round Changes meeting
To view flyer click on link below.
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/round-changes-26-feb-003.pdf
Update: Barnet Council Finances
Some Barnet Council staff have been briefed about the Council finances which included confirmation that the Council has had an agreement with the Government for financial support.
At the same time, we are supporting UNISON members who being issued with redundancy notices.
Barnet UNISON is concerned that the Council has not provided a serious response to the recommendations outline in our report which was submitted to the Council last year.
It would be fair to say that feedback from our members is that they feel that once again it is the rest of the workforce which are being asked to take the brunt of the cuts.
In a report to the Employment Sub-Committee a decision to delete a Director role was overturned and the Executive Director has been asked to make a similar saving from lower graded management staff.
Please see below a reminder of the actions UNISON submitted as an alternative to cuts.
To view our report please click on the link below
UNISON response to Barnet Councils Restructure Proposals 2024
Come along to find out more about Four Day week and no loss of pay
Happy Valentine! It’s a New Payslip in The Barnet Group!
Fingers crossed colleagues are able to access their payslips today and everyone has been paid correctly.
We had been promised that some of our reps in The Barnet Group or who work irregular hours would be consulted with in respect of the new payslip to help make sure it meets the needs of all workers. This did not happen. We can only hope that all colleagues can now access a payslip which shows them more detail about how their pay is made up. This was the opportunity presented when The Barnet Group decided to have a different payroll provider from the Council.
If you are experiencing difficulties accessing or understanding your payslip please follow the instructions on the FAQ sheet below.
If you are unable to resolve these issues, your manager should assist you. If none of this is working, please contact your union rep or contactus@barnetunison.org.uk or 020 8359 2088.
Barnet UNISON has been trying to find out whether The Barnet Group is being compliant with Pensions Regulations around the retention of records. To date we have had no response despite 3 emails over a period of a number of weeks. We may now need to take independent legal advice. In the meantime we can only encourage all workers to ensure you have every payslip downloaded, saved or printed off for your own records. We have had instances of people being told they have payments missing in their pension records and losing out on pensions when they need them so please DO keep records. Do this BEFORE the end of April.
