Cost of Living Crisis – Barnet UNISON

Holiday Pay — Member Update

9th June 2026 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Cost of Living Crisis, Local, UNISON Campaign

Holiday Pay — Member Update

What is this about?

For many years, the Council calculated holiday pay based on basic pay only. If you regularly worked overtime — whether that was extra shifts, weekend working, Bank Holiday rotas or other regular additional hours — that overtime was left out of your holiday pay calculation. That meant when you took a week’s leave, you were paid less than you would have earned in a normal working week.

This was wrong in law. A series of Employment Tribunal rulings — most significantly from 2014 onwards — established clearly that regular overtime must be included in holiday pay. If overtime is a regular and normal part of your working pattern, your holiday pay should reflect your normal earnings, not just your basic rate.

The Council should have corrected this from 2014. It did not do so for a significant number of workers. Barnet UNISON has been pursuing this on behalf of members and the Council has now accepted in writing that regular overtime should be included in holiday pay calculations.

Who is affected?

The workers we know are most directly affected are depot staff in Waste, Recycling, Green Waste and Street Scene. But this issue is not limited to depot workers. Any LBB employee who regularly works overtime as a normal part of their job could be affected — including staff in social services, children’s homes, libraries and other services. We have asked the Council to provide data on all affected workers across the workforce, and we are still waiting for that information.

If you regularly work overtime and have done so for a number of years, you may have a personal interest in this claim.

Where are we now?

Barnet UNISON has been in formal negotiations with the Council through the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Group. Those negotiations are now moving towards a conclusion. We expect to be in a position to consult members on a proposed offer before the summer.

When we have a formal proposal from the Council — setting out who is covered, how far back it goes, and how the figures have been calculated — we will share the full details with affected members and seek your views before anything is agreed.

We are not there yet, but we are close. Watch this space.

If you have any questions in the meantime, contact the branch at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

End.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 2026 BARNET UNISON’S EQUAL PAY FIGHT: WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY

8th June 2026 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Cost of Living Crisis, Equal Pay, Housing, Local, National, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 2026

BARNET UNISON’S EQUAL PAY FIGHT: WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY

Hundreds of Barnet women workers are owed years of back pay. UNISON is fighting for every one of them and the bill for Barnet Council is growing every single day.

On 29 May 2026, Barnet UNISON took its equal pay claim to the Employment Tribunal. UNISON’s solicitors made the case for hundreds of women workers — school staff, care workers, early years workers, administrators and support staff — who have for years been paid less than their male counterparts in the council’s waste and recycling service.

Here is what we know. Male workers in the waste and recycling service are paid for a full working day but are allowed to go home when their rounds are done, sometimes by mid-morning. Women doing work of equal value have no such benefit. They work every contracted hour every day. That is not fair. That is unequal and illegal. And UNISON is determined to put it right.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TRIBUNAL

Our barrister succeeded in getting UNISON’s case heard, despite attempts by Barnet Council to block our submissions. Worryingly, the GMB union supported the Council’s position on this matter. UNISON was fighting for women workers in that courtroom, making the case to get our members’ voices heard.

The judge has set a preliminary hearing for 9 September 2026 to consider UNISON’s application to have the procedural block on our claim removed.

That hearing is the next critical moment. We will be ready.

Separately, the tribunal confirmed that UNISON’s claims against The Barnet Group and Barnet Education and Learning Skills — the council’s own companies, employing many of our members — are not subject to any block and are being progressed. Those claims move forward now.

OUR CLAIM IS STRONG AND GROWING

Barnet UNISON’s case is not built on speculation. It is built on evidence — evidence that has been gathered carefully, systematically, and with the support of experienced legal specialists in equal pay law.

Here is what we know about the situation at Barnet:

Waste and recycling workers are regularly finishing their rounds hours before their contracted day ends and going home, paid in full.

Women working in schools, care, early years, social services and admin must complete every contracted hour. There is no equivalent benefit for them.
The council knows this practice exists. Rather than negotiating an end to this practice as other Councils have done, they are refusing to sit and meet with UNISON.
Other councils — including Southampton, Birmingham and Glasgow — have already settled equal pay claims on the same basis, paying out millions of pounds to women workers.
The longer Barnet Council refuses to come to the table, the bigger the bill becomes. Every single month of delay adds to the compensation owed.

“This claim is about basic fairness. Women working for Barnet Council and its companies have been short-changed for years while the council looked the other way. We have the evidence, we have the legal backing, and we have the determination to see this through. Barnet Council cannot run from this. The question is not whether they will have to pay — it is how much.”

Helen Davies, Branch Chair, Barnet UNISON and UNISON London Regional SGE Representative

A WORD ABOUT THE GMB

At the 29 May hearing, the GMB union joined with Barnet Council in resisting UNISON’s submissions.

UNISON is not interested in inter-union politics. We are interested in equality and fairness for our members. We have reached out to GMB to approach the legal process collectively. We want to work with them. But we will not let another union block our members’ access to justice.

UNISON will continue to fight for every member who has signed up to this claim, and we will fight for the right of every eligible worker to join it.

EVERY MONTH OF DELAY COSTS BARNET COUNCIL MORE

Barnet Council’s legal strategy appears to be delay procedural hearings; blocking applications; running down the clock. What they do not seem to understand, or perhaps do not care about, is that delay does not reduce their liability; it increases it.

Equal pay back pay accrues from the date a claim is lodged. UNISON’s claims were lodged in November and December 2025. That clock is running. Every month the council refuses to negotiate, every month they hide behind procedural manoeuvres, the total compensation bill grows. By the time this case reaches settlement or judgment, Barnet Council will be paying for every single month they delayed.

That cost is ultimately borne by Barnet taxpayers. UNISON is not responsible for that. The council is.

THIS IS YOUR CLAIM. YOUR TIME IS NOW.

UNISON has lodged claims on behalf of our members. But the strength of this campaign depends on numbers and numbers depend on you.

Every eligible UNISON member who completes a case form adds to the pressure on Barnet Council to stop stalling and sit down at the negotiating table. A large, organised, well-evidenced claim is harder to ignore and harder to fight than a small one. Barnet Council is already watching these numbers. Help us make them impossible to ignore.

Here is what you must understand about timing: your back pay runs from the date you join the claim, not from the date UNISON first raised the issue. Every month you wait is a month of potential compensation you may never recover. Do not assume someone else has done it for you. Do not assume you will be included automatically.

COMPLETE YOUR CASE FORM TODAY

Contact Barnet UNISON at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk to get your case form. Fill it in. Return it. Do it now.

If you are a UNISON member working for the London Borough of Barnet, The Barnet Group or Barnet Education and Learning Skills, and you believe you may have been affected by unequal pay, you may be eligible to join this claim. Speak to your UNISON rep or contact the branch directly.

UNISON STANDS FULLY BEHIND YOU

UNISON knows what the cost-of-living crisis means for our members. We see it every day. Workers who give everything to their jobs — caring for children, supporting families, keeping this borough running — are struggling to pay their bills, heat their homes and put food on the table. Many of Barnet UNISON’s members are among the lowest paid workers in the borough. They cannot afford to wait years for justice that should have been delivered years ago.

That is why this claim matters beyond its legal significance. The back pay owed to these workers is not a windfall. It is money they earned and were denied. It is money that would make a real difference to real lives, right now, when it is needed most.

“Barnet UNISON’s equal pay claim is exactly the kind of fight that UNISON exists to lead. These are women who have worked hard, served their community, and been systematically short-changed. UNISON’s London region stands fully behind Barnet branch and every member in this claim. We will not rest until justice is delivered.”

Sara Gorton Regional Secretary UNISON Greater London Region

“Equal pay is not a negotiating position. It is a legal right. The women of Barnet have waited long enough. UNISON is unequivocally, unconditionally and completely behind Barnet UNISON’s members and their branch in this fight. Barnet Council must stop hiding behind legal delays and do the right thing: come to the table, negotiate a fair settlement, and end this inequality now.”

Andrea Egan, UNISON General Secretary

ENDS

For further information contact Barnet UNISON Branch: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

Barnet UNISON is the UNISON branch for workers employed by the London Borough of Barnet, The Barnet Group and Barnet Education and Learning Skills.
Equal pay claims are brought under the Equality Act 2010. Back pay in Employment Tribunal equal pay claims in England and Wales runs for up to six years from the date the claim is lodged.
UNISON’s equal pay claims were lodged with the Employment Tribunal in November and December 2025.
A preliminary hearing is listed for 9 September 2026 to consider UNISON’s application to lift the procedural stay on claims against the London Borough of Barnet.
Claims against The Barnet Group and Barnet Education and Learning Skills are not subject to the stay and are being actively progressed.
Comparable equal pay settlements involving task and finish in waste and recycling services have been reached at Southampton City Council (July 2025), Birmingham City Council (2024–25) and Glasgow City Council (2022).

BARNET HOMES & YCB BALLOTS OPEN: TBG WORKERS VOTE ON NEXT STEPS IN PAY AND PENSION FIGHT

23rd April 2026 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Cost of Living Crisis, Insourcing, Local, London Living Wage, News, Pensions, Repairs, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Housing and care workers employed by Barnet Council-owned TBG say “we can’t keep absorbing the cost of living crisis”

Barnet UNISON has opened two separate consultative ballots for members employed by The Barnet Group (TBG) — the council-owned company that delivers key services on behalf of the London Borough of Barnet.

The ballots cover:

Barnet Homes (Housing Services) workers, and
Your Choice Barnet (Adult Social Care) care and support workers.

The ballots follow TBG’s rejection of UNISON’s claims on pay, terms and conditions, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). UNISON says the vote is needed to show management — and the council as owner and commissioner — that workers expect a serious response to the cost of living crisis.

A Barnet Homes housing worker said :

“People think housing is just admin. It isn’t. You’re dealing with residents in crisis, rising workload and constant pressure. Then you go home and you’re doing the same sums everyone else is doing — rent, bills, travel, food — and it doesn’t add up. The stress doesn’t switch off. It affects your head, your sleep, your family.”

A Your Choice Barnet care worker said :

“We support vulnerable adults every day. It’s physical work and it takes a toll mentally as well. But the hardest part is knowing you’re working flat out and still worrying about money — choosing between basics, falling behind, borrowing, trying to hold it together for your kids. This isn’t sustainable.”

Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair and UNISON SGE representative for London, said:

“These workers keep essential housing and care services running in one of the most expensive cities in the world. They are not asking for the moon — they are asking for fairness: decent pay, decent terms and access to LGPS. TBG is owned by Barnet Council, and Barnet Council cannot wash its hands of what happens to the workforce delivering its services. The ballots are open because members’ voices must be heard — and because the current situation is pushing too many working families towards hardship.”

Call to action:
Barnet UNISON is urging all eligible members in Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet to take part and return their ballot papers.

For media enquiries: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Update on Pay Negotiations with TBG

26th February 2026 admin Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Cost of Living Crisis, Housing, Local, News, Pensions, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Barnet UNISON recently met with senior representatives from The Barnet Group (TBG) to discuss our 2024/25 pay and terms & conditions claim covering members in YCB and Barnet Homes.

At the meeting, TBG outlined what they describe as significant financial pressures across both organisations. They highlighted:

Very small projected operating surpluses for the coming year
Accumulated losses within YCB
Ongoing pressures linked to council funding and the Housing Revenue Account
Market challenges within residential care, including difficulties cross-subsidising council placements

They also referenced a recent external benchmarking review of extra care services, which they say shows TBG offering comparatively generous terms and conditions relative to parts of the wider care market.

UNISON’s Position

We made clear that our claim reflects the reality members are living through:

The cost of living crisis continues to hit housing and care workers hard.
Pay compression over many years has left many members feeling worse off in real terms.
In care services in particular, financial strain is severe, with some members telling us they are struggling to meet basic costs.

We emphasised that Barnet Homes and YCB do not function without their workforce. Any discussion about sustainability must include fair and sustainable pay for staff.

We also made clear that TBG is not bound by national NJC negotiations. That is why we have formally submitted our full claim locally and expect meaningful negotiation on all elements.

What Happens Next

TBG has committed to providing full costings for the outstanding elements of our claim, including pension implications. We expect that information before 24 March.

Once negotiations are exhausted, members will be consulted on the employer’s response. That would be a consultative ballot — not a strike ballot — allowing members to decide whether the offer is acceptable or whether further action is required.

This is a challenging negotiation. We recognise the financial arguments being made by the employer — but we also recognise the very real financial pressures our members are facing.

We will continue to press your case firmly and constructively.

Further updates will follow once we receive TBG’s full response.

End.

Holiday Pay Update: Talks Paused Until Barnet Council Provides Key Information

19th February 2026 admin Austerity, Cost of Living Crisis, Local, News, UNISON Campaign

Talks with the London Borough of Barnet (LBB) on holiday pay have currently paused because UNISON is still waiting for the Council to provide some basic information about how it is working out holiday pay for staff who regularly work overtime.

This matters because holiday pay is not just a routine payroll issue — it affects real money in members’ pockets. UNISON is determined to get this right. We do not want to sign off any arrangement and later discover it does not meet the legal requirements. That would risk further underpayments and create unnecessary disputes that we are trying to avoid.

We have told LBB that as soon as the Council provides the information, we will share it promptly with UNISON’s legal advisers so we can confirm whether the approach is lawful and properly covers all Barnet workers who work overtime — including staff in community schools.

If the approach is confirmed as lawful, we will move straight on to negotiating back pay. UNISON’s starting position is that this issue should have been addressed years ago, and we will be pressing for back pay to go back as far as possible.

When LBB reaches a final offer, we will share the details with members and consult on whether you want to accept the compensation payment. The final outcome will depend on your feedback once you can see what the payment looks like. Please keep an eye out for further updates

Cost of Living Crisis: What Barnet UNISON Is Doing — and Why Your Vote Matters

19th February 2026 admin Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Cost of Living Crisis, Equal Pay, Health and Safety, Housing, Libraries, Local, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Every week Barnet UNISON speaks to members who are doing essential public service work — and struggling to make ends meet. That should never be normal. Yet in one of the most expensive cities in the world, too many Barnet workers are facing rising rents, higher food bills, increased energy costs, and transport fares that keep going up while pay falls behind.

We are seeing the reality on the ground: members skipping meals, taking second jobs, worrying about heating bills, and telling us they feel worse off now than at any time in their working lives.

Barnet UNISON has not stood back and watched this happen. We have built a coordinated Cost-of-Living response based on organising, bargaining and legal challenge. We are currently running ten separate cost-of-living campaigns across the employers where our members work.

Our 10 Cost of Living Campaigns

1. Equal Pay campaign across three employers

2. Pay claim for housing workers

3. Terms and conditions claim for housing workers

4. LGPS pension claim for housing workers

5. Pay claim for care workers

6. Terms and conditions claim for care workers

7. LGPS pension claim for care workers

8. Holiday payments claim for Barnet Council workers

9. Holiday payments claim for housing and care workers

10. Pay claim for outsourced cleaners

This is one of the most extensive cost-of-living responses our branch has ever mounted. It reflects what members have told us repeatedly: the problem is not one single issue — it is pay, pensions, insecure terms, unpaid entitlements, and historic inequality all combining to squeeze household incomes.

Low Pay in a High-Cost City: The Reality

Low pay is not accidental. It grows when employers hold down wages, delay reviews, outsource services, and maintain unequal pay structures.

Meanwhile, the cost of living in London continues to rise. Housing costs remain among the highest in the country. Inflation over recent years has pushed up the price of everyday essentials. When wages lag behind prices year after year, workers get poorer even while working just as hard — or harder — than before.

That is not sustainable for individuals, for families, or for the services we provide.

What the Union Is Doing — and What Happens Next

Our job as your union is to turn frustration into leverage. That means submitting claims, negotiating firmly, campaigning publicly, using legal routes where appropriate, and — when members support it — preparing for industrial action.

Across all ten campaigns, we are pressing employers to negotiate seriously and settle fairly. Some campaigns focus on immediate pay uplift. Others address structural unfairness that has cost members money over many years. All are about restoring value to your work.

The Most Important Message: Members Decide

There is one point we want to be absolutely clear about:

Members decide.

Ballots matter. Consultations matter. Voting matters. Whether a claim settles, escalates, or moves to the next stage depends on member participation and member votes.

The future of each of these campaigns will not be decided in a boardroom alone — it will be determined by how members vote.

When we organise and vote together, we are strongest.

End.