Barnet launches major Equal Pay action spanning council and LATCs — ‘EasyCouncil’ faces first London-wide test case
PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release:
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:
- Southampton City Council – Settlement agreed (July 2025) for ~800 staff; task-and-finish disparity.
- Sheffield City Council – Agreement (Sept 2025): ~3,600 staff / ~260 roles; ~£36m redress.
- Birmingham City Council – Framework to settle (Dec 2024) following Section 114.
- Coventry City Council – ~680 claims ongoing (2025); >£30m exposure; ET listed Nov 2026.
- Brighton & Hove City Council – Claims lodged/flagged (2024–25), thousands indicated.
- Bradford MDC – Legal action launched (July 2025) for female-dominated roles.
- Knowsley Council – Union warns of “tens of millions” exposure (Oct 2025).
- Leeds City Council – Unions inviting case forms (2024–25).
- Derby City Council – Ongoing disputes; >£1.5m spent defending cases.
- BCP Council – Corporate papers flag equal-pay litigation risk (2024–25).
Scotland: - Glasgow City Council – Continuing settlements/updates (2023–25); key LATC precedent.
- Fife Council – Tribunal success reported (July 2022); further claims lodged.
- 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.