Category: Consultation

School Meals Workers — UNISON Needs to Hear From You

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Consultation, Insourcing, Local, London Living Wage, News, Schools, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

June 2026

If you work for ISS Catering in a Barnet school, please read this.

The council’s contract with ISS is coming to an end in March 2027. That does not necessarily mean your job ends — it may mean a change of employer, or it may mean staying with ISS under a new arrangement — but there will be changes, and UNISON needs to be on top of this from the start to protect your rights.

I have already been into meetings with Barnet Council management about what this means for catering staff and I will be going back in. I am pushing hard on the things that matter most — your pay, your London Living Wage, your pension, and making sure any transfer is handled properly and fairly. I am also making the case directly to the council and to elected councillors that bringing this service back in-house — so that you become council employees again — is the right thing to do. That fight is ongoing.

But I need to hear from you.

Our membership records are not always up to date, and things may have changed since many of you moved from the council to ISS back in 2016. I cannot represent you properly without knowing your current situation.

Please get in touch and let me know:

  • What job you are currently doing and which school you are based at
  • Whether your terms and conditions have changed since you moved to ISS — for example your pay, your hours, your holiday entitlement
  • Whether you are still in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or whether your pension arrangements have changed
  • Whether your contact details or home address have changed
  • Whether you have any concerns or issues you want me to know about

Everything you tell me is treated in confidence. It comes to me directly and stays with me — I am not passing anything to ISS or to the council.

I know many of you will have questions I cannot fully answer yet. Things are still being worked out and I would rather be honest with you than give you information that turns out to be wrong. What I can tell you is that UNISON is in the room, I am attending every meeting, and your rights under TUPE mean your core terms and conditions are legally protected through any transfer.

Even if you have no concerns right now, please still get in touch with your current role and contact details. Every reply strengthens our position.

Contact Barnet UNISON directly: 📧 contactus@barnetunison.org.uk 📞 020 8359 2088

Not yet a UNISON member?

If a colleague has shared this with you and you are not yet in UNISON, now is exactly the right time to join. You can sign up at unison.org.uk/join or contact John directly and he will help you join over the phone.

End.

Will ULEZ impact on your ability to come to work?

Austerity, Climate Change, Consultation, Local, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

What is ULEZ and when does its start?

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanding across all London boroughs from 29 August 2023 to help clear London’s air.

The ULEZ will continue to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December).

How can I check if my vehicle will have to pay the daily charge?

You can check your vehicle by clicking on the government website below

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/?cid=email_FINAL_TFL1007_ULEX_Oyster_general-MainCTA

What is the daily charge?

Cars, motorcycles, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) will need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay a daily charge of £12.50 when driving within the zone, including the expanded area from 29 August.

What is Barnet UNISON doing about it?

Barnet UNISON has submitted ULEZ to the negotiation table with Barnet Council. The first meeting will be on Monday 27 February 2023.

Look out for updates from us.

If you have any questions/concerns about ULEZ please email us at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk or leave a message on our voicemail on 0208 359 2088

End.

What Grade am I on ?

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Consultation, Local, National, Schools, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

The table below shows the impact of the National Pay offer on each of the Barnet Council Grades

To help our members work out what the National Pay offer means to their grade we have put together a list of Job titles and Grades. Please see below.

If you need any support or assistance on this matter please contact the Barnet UNISON office at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk or ring 0208 359 2088

 

End.

Annual General Meeting 4th March 2021, 4pm

Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Consultation, COVID 19, Local, News, Pensions, Report, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

 

March 4th at 4pm Time off has been requested from all employers

I don’t think we ever imagined circumstances where as trade unionists we would be facing such wide scale interventions involving potentially life or death decisions. The pressure on the whole branch, which is not an abstract thing – it’s our members and reps – has been intense and continues to be so.

Nonetheless it is you and your engagement which has enabled reps to keep on doing what they are doing and to meet with some success. There is so much more to do though…

We need you to attend our Annual General Meeting in order to make key decisions for the correct running of our branch. If we fail to meet as per rules we will fail to exist and we will not be able to continue to support you.

We have confirmed our zoom account will let in up to 500 people so there will not be a problem for those of you who wish to attend. However, this time you MUST register in advance. This is because the AGM is a member only event and for voting purposes we need to confirm those attending are our members.

You need to make sure when you attend we can identify you, therefore if you know your image in the meeting will appear with “Galaxy” or “i-phone user” rather than your name you need to change this to your real name before you enter the meeting otherwise you are likely to be denied access.

Here is a guide on how to use Zoom

How-to-use-Zoom-Guide

If you still require assistance on how to use Zoom please contact the Branch Office by email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Barnet UNISON is the 2nd fastest growing branch in the Greater London region according to last year’s figures. We welcome our new members. We have also seen a much greater number of colleagues agreeing to become reps which is incredibly important. This growth has been critical in our attempts to keep us all as safe as possible. In order to keep going we need you to attend our AGM

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcocOGvrjMsGtAYwZn7i5kEeqIy-PS8euKU

Repairs Consultation in the Barnet Group to begin 7th of September

Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Consultation, Repairs

The Repairs Consultation will start on Monday 7th of September.

I will be at the Grahame Park Housing Office on Monday from 9am to offer you support.

I have scheduled a zoom meeting at 3pm for any members effected by the proposals – the details to join are below – Time off for members effected by the proposals to attend has been agreed.

Topic: Barnet Homes repairs
Time: Sep 7, 2020 03:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82889420737?pwd=UmhYQUc4MzJ0aUliUUY3VERMdk00UT09
Meeting ID: 828 8942 0737
Passcode: 605905