Category: Barnet Group

Barnet Council Agency Spend – Update more to follow

Austerity, Barnet Group, Local, News, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Below is the graph showing agency spend since 2010.

Last year Barnet Council spent £20 million.

In September 2024, staff were informed that there was a £20million deficit for this years budget.

At the end of August 2024, Barnet Council had already spent £11,950,348.29 on Agency workers.

In the meantime Barnet UNISON is trequestioing a breakdown of the use of agency/consultants across each directorate. We want to see what vacant posts are being covered by agency workers.

Since then Barnet Council has put in control measures for agency spend.



We are now waiting for the latest update on Barnet Council Agency spend for September………….


 




End.


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Apology: UPDATED: Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, News, Report, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Dear Barnet UNISON Members


Following some complaints about some pay inaccuracies in our post entitled:


“UPDATED: Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber””


UNISON has updated the salary information.


To view updated article, click on link to our website here.


https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/10/18/barnet-council-the-tale-of-three-chief-executives-and-one-plumber/


At the same time, we have been informed that we will be given complete set of information about all four posts above including what is referred to a ‘oncosts’ for each role to ensure fairness and transparency.


Once we have this information we will update the articlle again.


Following the complaint, we had chance to think about our attempts for transparency and openness about spend particularly since the Council announced a serious financial crisis and the need to find £20million in savings in this financial year.


The Localism Act 2011 – Openness and accountability in local pay 1.1. Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to publish an annual pay policy statement.


The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 issued in February 2015 by the then Department for Communities and Local Government; and specific guidance relevant to the Localism Act issued by the Department in February 2012 and February 2013.


To comply with the above legislation Barnet Council, publish their Pay Policy document each year which shows the pay for all posts above £58k.


Barnet UNISON has reflected on this and has subsequently requested for the same transparency to be applied to TBG and BELS whereby each year the salaries that meet the criteria set out in the legislation above are published either by TBG and BELS or they are published alongside Barnet Council Annual Pay Policy each year.


Barnet UNISONs preference would be the reports would be submitted together to ensure that there is full transparency over Council spending on staff.


We are awaiting a response and will update members accordingly. 


End.

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Barnet Council and The Barnet Group cut tea and coffee to staff
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, News, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Barnet Council announced last week that they would be ending tea and coffee for their staff in the workplace. The Barnet Group a local authority trading company 100% owned by Barnet Council has made the same statement to their staff.


 


“Things must be bad to if the employer believes that this cut will help address the financial crisis facing Barnet Council. How much is this really going to save? This message is not going down well with staff across both employers. Our members are more interested in whether the Council has a grip on millions they keep handing over to Agencies and Consultants (£20 million last year) or the millions given to Capita (£24 million) last year. The Council need to rethink this decision.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON. 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Bad News for Housing Workers in Barnet Council
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Local, News, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


On Tuesday 16 July Barnet Council Cabinet Committee met and agreed to carry on with the outsourced Barnet Homes model of employment.


According to one councillor “If something isn’t broken don’t fix it, is my mantra,”


(You can view the discussion and quote two hours, two minutes and 10 seconds on the Council recording of the meeting access via this link https://rb.gy/6d51j0 )


Barnet UNISON had submitted a report to the Cabinet Committee which members can read by clicking on the link below.


https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UNISON-Housing-Service-Report-2024.pdf


I have been attending Council Committee meetings as a UNISON rep for almost 28 years and in all that time one thing that stands out when all councillors are speaking about council services is that they fail to acknowledge that without the workforce there would be no services for residents.


For instance, where they are discussing a decision which has a fundamental impact on the workforce, they refuse to allow UNISON to speak and answer questions from councillors about our own report and recommendations.


Barnet UNISON has hundreds of outsourced members who are all providing services on behalf of Barnet Council, yet they are not entitled to Barnet Council Terms and Condition or access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Over the past 15 years outsourcing services has been the direction of travel for many of our members.


What councillors and senior officers who draft the reports promoting the outsourcing don’t want to discuss is the detrimental impact of outsourcing on the workforce. They are keen to offer words of comfort, but as our members know words of comfort do not pay the rent, the energy bills, the food shop. There is no discount for outsourced workers when the council tax bill arrives, or travel cost go up again.


We are in the worst cost of living crisis in 77 years and many of our members in the outsourced workforce need to two jobs to survive and even that is not enough, and they are forced to rely on food banks.


What we have in Barnet is a Two-Tier workforce and it is our duty as a trade union to try and negotiate an end to outsourcing.


For Housing workers, it is deeply disappointing that members of the committee do not see the connection between how the staff are treated in terms of pay and terms and conditions and service delivery.


There is only one other ALMO in London whilst every other Housing worker is on Council Terms and Conditions with access to the Pension scheme.


Barnet UNISON believes that Housing workers deserve better which is why we are supporting UNISON National Policy “Bringing Services Home” campaign.


Look out for our communications which start in the Autumn. A campaign must involve member not just the reps.


If you are a Housing worker and have a question, please email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk


John Burgess Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.


End.


 


 


 


 


https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UNISON-Housing-Service-Report-2024.pdf

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Social Care and Repair Workers 87% Vote Yes to Action on Pay
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Health and Safety, Local, News, Recruitment, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


“If the those at the top can’t pay up then one of them should go so we do have money. We don’t need so many big Daddies.”


Anju, The Barnet Group UNISON rep


On a turnout of 70%, 98% agreed with Barnet UNISON’s pay claim and 87% said they were willing to take strike action in favour of the pay claim. The overwhelming majority of these are care and support workers.


Workers in The Barnet Group who are affected by the London Living Wage, having no enhanced rates of pay for working nights, bank holidays or overtime rates were surveyed in an indicative ballot for strength of feeling over these issues. Barnet UNISON’s pay claim was put to them.


Shockingly the lowest paid in The Barnet Group were given no pay rise for the whole of 2023! Paying the new rate of the London Living Wage 6 months after the new rate was announced with no backdate does not help the lowest paid.


The pay claim is: 


    

  1. Backdate the London Living Wage increase to £13.15 to the 1/11/23 and maintain differentials between other grades in YCB.
    2. 

  2. Pay Overtime Rates of time and a half Monday to Saturday and double time Sundays and Bank Holidays.
    3. 

  3. Pay enhanced rates of 25% Saturday 6am to 10pm; 50% Sunday all day; 100% Bank holiday (25% = time and a quarter; 50% = time and a half; 100% = double time)
    4. 

  4. Pay an increased Rate of time and a third for night working (10pm-6am).
    5. 



Barnet UNISON hopes that the results of the survey will lead to productive talks where consideration will be given to the demands. If no such consideration will be given we will progress to a formal ballot of these members with a view to taking strike action.


On hearing the results this is what some of our reps had to say:


“It’s a good result for us. Actions speak louder than words. We work so hard, we deserve it. We get no thank you’s.”


Tracy, The Barnet Group UNISON rep.


 “It’s time to act. It’s a call from the trenches.”


Pauline, The Barnet Group UNISON rep


“The COVID heroes have spoken. The Barnet Group needs to listen.”


Patrick Hunter, Assistant Branch Secretary for Barnet UNISON


“Most of these workers are skilled workers and yet they have rates of pay which are lower than for unskilled work. Is it because they are women? Is it because they are predominantly Black? If Equalities actually mean something, then this needs to be sorted.”


Helen Davies, Chair of Barnet UNISON.


 


End.


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Barnet UNISON consultative ballot for care workers
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Care & Support, COVID 19, Local, London Living Wage, News, Recruitment, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
 




13 February 2024


Dear colleague,


We want you to participate in this consultative ballot to make it clear to senior managers just how strongly you feel about your pay.


We will be letting senior managers know the results of the ballot, so this is your chance to make a difference. If enough people vote yes, then it will not be your last chance and we may progress to balloting our members officially about your willingness to take strike action.


During the COVID pandemic you put your lives and the lives of your families/ loved ones on the line to keep members of the public safe. It took a long time for you to then receive an uplift in your pay, terms and conditions….and it was not enough.


In any case the small gains you made in pay were smashed away by the cost-of-living crisis.


What can The Barnet Group afford? Perhaps we should ask the question differently – You have been identified as essential workers; can any employer afford the cost of you not doing your job?


What you must do now? 


If your workplace setting has a UNISON rep, you should ask them for your ballot paper. Your rep should be checking with you that the address on the envelope matches your current home address. If we did go on to carry out an official ballot, the letter would go to your home address. We need to know we have your correct details. Complete the ballot paper and hand it back to your UNISON rep.


If your workplace has no UNISON rep, the ballot paper will be posted to you directly. Please complete the ballot paper and put it back in the pre-paid envelope and post it back to us.


Your ballot paper needs to reach us by 5pm 23rd February 2024


 


Yours Sincerely


 


John Burgess                                  Patrick Hunter                           Helen Davies


Barnet UNISON                               Barnet UNISON                         Barnet UNISON


Branch Secretary              TBG Assistant Branch Secretary                Branch Chair


 


 


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
			
	

		
		
Bringing Services Home – Barnet UNISON campaign
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Care & Support, Community, COVID 19, Health and Safety, Local, London Living Wage, News, Pensions, Recruitment, Repairs, Report, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			
 




Barnet UNISON is proud to announce that we are promoting UNISON Bringing Services Home campaign.


As a branch we have had more than our share of outsourcing. The easy Council experiment was a spectacular failure. It cost more money (yes, we told them it would!) and it did not lead to better services.


In May 2022, Barnet Labour Party won the election with a massive majority and one of their priorities was “Review of contracted out services, in the context of the new administration’s aspiration to bring privatised services back in-house.”


Last year Barnet Labour Party brought back one of the big contracts with Capita and other services on the other Capita contract have been coming back in-house.


The Council is going through a period of healing from the badly advised outsourcing ideology which dominated our Council for over a decade.


Today Barnet UNISON has written to all senior council officers responsible for outsourced contracts seeking a meeting to discuss how and when they are going to review the outsourced service.


Barnet UNISON also want to deal with the Ethnicity Pay Gap which the outsourcing easy Council ideology promoted by always securing the outsourcing option for services which are largely provided by Black workers e.g.


    

  1. NSL: Parking Services
    2. 

  2. ISS: Catering Services
    3. 

  3. Your Choice Barnet: Social Care services
    4. 

  4. Norse: Cleaning services
    5. 

  5. Blue 9: Security Services.
    6. 



All the above services were outsourced under the Tories.


Barnet UNISON positively supports the statement of UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:


“Black workers make a vital contribution to the health and care sector but are all too often at the bottom of the pay scale as care workers, porters, healthcare assistants and catering staff. They frequently face shocking discrimination, threatening their health, job security and life chances.”


This why Barnet UNISON is determined to work with the Labour Administration to bring back these services into the Council thus enabling real life meaningful changes for a workforce that is often invisible and often low paid and without occupational sick pay.


End.


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Breaking News: Covid Heroes face the sack by Barnet Council
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, COVID 19, Disability, Health and Safety, News, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute	



	
		

			
		
					

			


The Barnet Group is an arm’s length company 100% owned by Barnet Council.


On Friday 9 February 2024, Enablement Home Care workers were told that they were no longer needed.


“We are the best at what we do, that is why we look after people discharged from hospital for 8 weeks till other carers takeover.”


Care worker


“They should be expanding our service, not shutting it, what we do is vital and we do it well”


Care worker


Staff and Barnet UNISON left the meeting with the following questions:


    

  1. Enablement is a well-run and valued service – why isn’t TBG expanding rather than closing the service?
    2. 

  2. What engagement has taken place with stakeholders – our tenants and clients?
    3. 

  3. When will we know if this is a TUPE or a Closure?
    4. 

  4. What are they consulting staff and UNISON on? UNISON is clear that TBG need to provide more details before commencing with 121’s?
    5. 

  5. When will ‘consultation’ begin and how long will it last?
    6. 



 Background: 


This service was handed to TBG after senior officers working for Barnet Council spectacularly failed over the procurement of Aquaflo a private contractor who had been given the contract by Barnet Council to deliver home care for Barnet residents.


“‘Disaster’ – Aquaflo Care company’s takeover from Housing 21 goes badly wrong.” 15th September 2016. 


https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/14745911.disaster-aquaflo-care-companys-takeover-from-housing-21-goes-badly-wrong/


Covid: How quickly senior officers and councillors forget


It is only a few years ago that these workers were called heroes as they went into Barnet residents’ homes to provide care and support whilst many of the senior managers and councillors issued instructions from the safety of their homes.Barnet UNISON will be providing support to all of our members.


Barnet UNISON will be providing support to all of our members and in the meantime, we are calling on Barnet Council to reverse this decision and bring it back in-house to the Adult Social Care directorate where it belongs. The decision by senior officers is at odds with the Labour Party position on creating a National Care Service which is something UNISON supports. “Unison’s general secretary, Christina McAnea, told the Observer: “Care is in crisis and the need for a national service has never been greater.”


More news later.


End.


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
National Disability History Month 16th November to 16th December
		
		
 
	
		Barnet Group, Disability, Local, National, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			






 


Dear Barnet Group Unison member,


 


Do you have a disability?


 


If so, have you ‘declared’ it to the employer?


 


If you haven’t, please consider doing so – the employer can’t make reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010 if they don’t know that you have a disability or condition.


 


It is really easy to ‘declare’ a disability – go to ITrent – click ‘view profile’ – under ‘confidential information’ click on ‘sensitive information’ – scroll to the bottom of the page and populate ‘self-certified disabled’ and ‘Disability description’ – and that is it – should your disability become an issue that you need a bit of help with, you would have ‘declared’ the disability/condition and the employer has to recognize that you may need to have reasonable adjustments put in place to help you.


 


Please consider declaring your illness/disability/condition – there is no stigma – I speak as someone with a long-term mental health issue [depression] who has declared their disability to the employer – the declaration is in complete confidence – and the help that I received and still receive to ‘manage’ my depression was only possible because my disability had been declared.


 


I have a disability – I am not disabled.


 


In solidarity


Patrick


 


Patrick Hunter


Barnet UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary for The Barnet Group


UNISON National Disability History Month event




27 November 20236:00pm–8:30pm




 






We’re holding a national event to celebrate Disability History Month and we’d love it if you could make it to London for it – or join us online!


The event will see the launch of our campaign for a new two-week deadline for reasonable adjustment requests. It takes place from 6pm on Monday 27 November at the UNISON Centre in London.


We’ll have some great speakers including Dr Marie Tidball, Labour parliamentary candidate for Penistone & Stockbridge and Bruce Robin, UNISON Legal Officer. There’ll also be a reception afterwards and a chance to speak to other disabled members about the campaign.


If you need support if you would like to travel to the event. Please contact the Barnet UNISON office at Contactus@barnetunison.org.uk




You can also join online –




Links to register:


Register to attend in person in London – https://msg.unison.org.uk/c/1cnOYMhTK8gpqoyeWiUQMPN


Register to attend online – https://msg.unison.org.uk/c/1cnOZPeco4t24WVFRdXuObY




 

			

		

		
		


	

			  

					
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