Category: News
Non UNISON news
Back dated pay delivered for our members –
Barnet UNISON has secured confirmation from London Borough of Barnet (LBB) that agency workers in Street Scene services are due to receive their backdated National Pay Award money in their payslip at the end of November 2025.
LBB paid the backdated award to directly employed staff in the August payroll, but concerns were raised with us that agency workers had not yet received the back pay they were owed. Barnet UNISON immediately contacted the Council, and we have now received clear confirmation from LBB that the backdated payment should be made to agency workers in the end-of-November 2025 payslip.
This is about fairness — and it’s about putting money where it belongs: in workers’ pockets. In a cost-of-living crisis, every pound matters, and Barnet UNISON will keep pushing to make sure nobody is left behind because of their employment status.
Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair, said:
“This is really welcome news for agency workers in Street Scene services. Barnet UNISON acted quickly, raised the issue directly with LBB, and we’ve now secured confirmation that the backdated pay should be in the payslip at the end of November 2025. At a time when bills are still rising and our members are feeling the strain, we will keep working relentlessly — year in, year out — to put more money back into members’ pockets and make sure people get what they’re owed.”
If you’re an agency worker in Street Scene and your payslip at the end of November 2025 doesn’t reflect the backdated pay, contact Barnet UNISON straight away so we can escalate it.
End.
Barnet UNISON secures London Living Wage to be paid now not next April for our APCOA members
Barnet UNISON has secured an early win in our campaign to get the new London Living Wage (LLW) of £14.80 paid immediately across outsourced Barnet Council services — not delayed until April 2026. Following our branch’s letter to contractors delivering council services, Parking Enforcement contractor APCOA has confirmed they will implement the new LLW rate now. (barnetunison.me.uk)
This is exactly why Barnet UNISON keeps pushing, every single year: when pay rises are delayed, it’s low-paid workers who carry the cost — through higher rent, higher bills, and higher food prices — while services rely on their dedication every day. (barnetunison.me.uk)
Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair, said:
“This is really welcome news for our members. It shows what collective pressure can achieve — when we push, employers move. In a cost of living crisis, workers can’t be told to wait months for money they’ve already earned in rising prices. Barnet UNISON will keep going, year in, year out, to make sure pay rises reach our members’ pockets as soon as possible.”
Barnet UNISON will now continue pressing other contractors to follow APCOA’s lead and implement the LLW uplift without delay, because our members — and Barnet’s services — can’t afford to wait. (barnetunison.me.uk)
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UNISON General Secretary election has started -USE YOUR VOTE
There are only two candidates to vote for in this election.
Barnet UNISON reps nominated Andrea Egan their reasons are set out above .
We are in the biggest cost of living crisis in 77 years.
Our members need strong leadership to win pay campaigns and to end outsourcing.
Please use YOUR VOTE.
For more details about the Election see below.
Ballot Papers
The despatch of ballot paper(s) to individual members will begin on 28 October 2025.
The ballot pack will consist of:
- a covering letter from the union
- a booklet containing the candidates’ election addresses and a full list of nominating bodies
- ballot paper(s)
- a return envelope.
Where members have previously requested materials in a special format (for example in large print), they will automatically receive the ballot pack in that format. Any additional requests should be made to the ballot helpline.
Ballot Helpline
If individual members have not received a paper by 11 November 2025, they should contact the ballot helpline via UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.
Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968.
If callers can have their membership number to hand when calling, that would help.
The latest that members can request a ballot paper is 19 November 2025 in order to ensure members have the opportunity to vote in time.
Please note that the ballot helpline can only deal with queries from individual members. If branches believe there is a widescale problem with receipt of ballot papers amongst their members (for instance if whole departments or geographical areas have not received ballot papers) then the branch should contact the Member Liaison Unit via elections@unison.co.uk.
Result and close of ballot
The deadline for receipt of ballot papers by the scrutineer is 5pm on 25 November 2025.
The result of this election will be announced on 17 December 2025.
Eligibility to vote
All full members who are on the union’s membership register as of 28 July 2025, will be entitled to vote in this election.
Members not on the membership register on 28 July 2025 will not be able to vote.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Barnet UNISON pushes for immediate London Living Wage uplift — “our members can’t wait six months”
London, 31 October 2025 — Barnet UNISON is relentlessly pursuing the urgent implementation of the new London Living Wage (LLW) of £14.80 for all workers delivering Barnet Council services — now, not in six months’ time.
The union has formally written to every Council officer responsible for outsourced contracts — including Cleaning (Norse), Social Care (Your Choice Barnet), Security (Blue Nine), Parking Enforcement (APCOA), and Schools Catering (ISS) — urging them to instruct their contractors to uplift pay with immediate effect in line with the Living Wage Foundation’s new London rate.
Helen Davies, Branch Chair, Barnet UNISON, said:
“Delaying the £14.80 London Living Wage until April means months more of avoidable hardship for low-paid staff who keep services running for Barnet residents. Our members are already making impossible choices — cutting back on heating, skipping meals, falling behind on rent — in one of the most expensive capital cities in the world. The uplift is needed now to protect health, dignity and service quality.”
Barnet UNISON says the case for immediate action is overwhelming. Households are still facing elevated energy bills, rising rents, and ongoing increases in food prices. Implementing £14.80 now would provide urgent relief, help retain experienced staff, reduce agency churn, and protect continuity of frontline services across Barnet.
Barnet UNISON’s call to action
- Apply £14.80 LLW now across all relevant contracts and subcontractors.
- Confirm a short, time-bound implementation plan and back-pay arrangements.
- Work with Barnet UNISON to resolve any operational barriers quickly.
ENDS
Media contact:
Email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Notes to editors:
- The Living Wage Foundation announced the 2025–26 London Living Wage of £14.80 on 22 October 2025 and expects accredited employers to implement as soon as possible (deadline 1 May 2026). (livingwage.org.uk)
- Energy bills: Ofgem’s price cap for 1 Oct–31 Dec 2025 is £1,755 for a typical dual-fuel household — up on the previous quarter and still well above pre-crisis levels. (Ofgem)
- Rents: ONS reports UK private rents up about 5–6% year-on-year; London’s rental inflation was 5.3% in the 12 months to September 2025. Average rent remains highest in London. (Office for National Statistics)
- Food prices: The annual inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages was 4.5% in September 2025 (ONS). Prices are still rising year-on-year even as the rate eases. (Office for National Statistics)
- Cost of living in London: Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking places London 8th globally, underscoring persistent affordability pressures in the capital. (Mercer)
Equal Pay explained by a cat & a dog 🐱🐶
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.
PRESS RELEASE: Barnet UNISON: Cut duplicated LATC overheads now to protect frontline services
Barnet UNISON is calling on Barnet Council’s Labour administration to act on the Interim Auditor’s Annual Report (2024/25) and remove duplicated overheads across council-owned companies (LATCs) — starting an insourcing programme that delivers recurring savings without hitting frontline services or the lowest-paid staff.
To View External Auditors report click on link below.
The Auditor confirms Barnet’s acute position: reliance on ~£55m Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) to balance 2025/26 and a collapse in General Fund reserves from £74m (Apr-21) to roughly £17–20m, with liquidity now a key risk.
“The Council must deliver £24m in savings in 2025/26… even then a £55m budget deficit remains for which the Council has sought EFS… General Fund reserves reduced from £74m… and are now approximately £17–20m.” (Executive Summary / Financial Sustainability).
At the same time, the Auditor finds a significant weakness in governance over council companies and joint ventures and issues Key Recommendation 3 (KR3) — an urgent call to inventory all companies/JVs, review their purpose and suitability, put proper KPIs in place, govern loans, and remove conflicts of interest.
What duplication looks like in Barnet (from the Auditor’s report)
Running LATCs/JVs alongside the Council means two of everything:
- Governance/Boards & Secretariat: separate boards/NEDs and basic company information not held centrally until mid-2025; gaps remain, including loans in excess of £400m not fully captured in central records.
- Parallel assurance: Barnet Group runs its own Internal Audit while the Council also runs Internal Audit — two layers for the same council-funded services.
- Procurement/contract pipelines: the Auditor identifies a significant weakness and issues KR4; multiple pipelines and inconsistent oversight undermine value for money.
- Corporate enablers repeated across entities: HR/workforce, Finance/Treasury, Legal/Governance, Risk & Internal Control, IT/Oracle/process, Performance/Compliance, Complaints, Data Protection & FOI, Communications, Insurance, PMO/Strategy — with the report evidencing parallel effort and gaps that add coordination cost.
These overheads are avoidable in an in-house model and represent savings that don’t require closing services.
Our members are worried — there is a better way
Barnet UNISON members, including those working in LATCs, are fearful of job losses and cuts to resident services. The Auditor’s report shows a route to structural, recurring savings that should be prioritised ahead of frontline cuts:
- Implement KR3: publish the complete list of companies/JVs; test each for continued suitability; set measurable KPIs; govern loans; document and remove conflicts.
- Deliver KR4: create a single, effective Procurement Board; introduce live reporting of performance, variations, waivers, risks and KPIs to CMT and those charged with governance.
- Consolidate duplicated corporate services back into the Council and insource targeted services to end board fees, duplicate audits and parallel management structures.
UNISON Barnet spokesperson:
“Councillors have inherited the damage of a decade of austerity. We recognise the scale of the challenge — but the first savings must come from removing duplicated LATC overheads, not cutting services like mental health support or Income Maximisation. Acting on the Auditor’s KR3 and KR4 gives us recurring savings, clearer accountability, and a credible route out of EFS without punishing residents or the lowest-paid.”
What savings look like (practical examples)
- Board/NED and secretariat costs reduced as LATCs are rationalised and brought in-house.
- Parallel audit/assurance: stop paying for two audit/control frameworks over the same services; align Barnet Group assurance with corporate Internal Audit.
- Procurement churn: with KR4’s central oversight, end re-tender churn and unmanaged waivers, and realise larger, strategic savings (the Council estimates ~£14m from re-tendering in 2024/25 — showing the headroom when procurement is tightened).
Every pound saved from duplication is a pound that can protect frontline services and stabilise teams, rather than funding parallel bureaucracies.
Call to action
Barnet UNISON asks Labour councillors to:
- Adopt KR3 within 12 weeks — publish the company/JV inventory; set criteria to identify insourcing candidates; document and resolve conflicts.
- Implement KR4 now — establish the Procurement Board with real-time KPI/waiver reporting to CMT and GARMS.
- Create a single corporate support model — bring duplicated HR, Finance/Treasury, Legal/Governance, Risk, Internal Audit, IT/Oracle, Comms, DP/FOI, Insurance and PMO/Performance back into one accountable centre.
- Ring-fence savings from de-duplication to avoid frontline cuts and support services residents rely on.
UNISON Barnet spokesperson:
“We’re ready to work with councillors and officers — urgently — to map duplication, size the savings and sequence insourcing so services are stabilised, not disrupted. This is the fair, credible way to balance the books.”
Notes to editors
- Document referenced: London Borough of Barnet — Interim Auditor’s Annual Report, Year ending 31 March 2025 (04 Sept 2025). Key extracts cited above: EFS/reserves (Financial Sustainability) ; governance of companies & KR3 (Governance) ; procurement weakness & KR4 (Improving Economy, Efficiency & Effectiveness) ; duplicated corporate functions & incomplete company information/loans >£400m (Governance) ; estimated ~£14m procurement savings from 2024/25 re-tendering (EEE) .
- UNISON position: Our January 2025 submission called for a shared services/duplication review before any cuts to the lowest-paid — the Auditor’s KR3 reinforces this approach. (Link available on Barnet UNISON site.)
End.
Holiday Pay Update – UNISON Awaits Council Response
Barnet UNISON has formally requested a meeting with Barnet Council to begin negotiations over back pay for staff who were underpaid holiday pay on overtime.
We first raised this issue in July 2025, when we informed members that the law has been clear since 2014 (Bear Scotland v Fulton) — holiday pay must include regular overtime. Despite this, Barnet Council only started making correct payments from April 2025.
UNISON’s position remains that staff have been underpaid for years, and we are seeking a collective compensation payment for all affected workers.
Payroll and HR services were run by Capita when the legal duty first arose, and we believe Barnet Council should seek to recoup any costs from Capita, not deny staff what they are owed.
Management has told us they are “considering legal issues” and will arrange a meeting, but UNISON has been waiting since July for this response. Our members deserve answers, not delays.
If you regularly work overtime, this issue affects you.
👉 Email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk for updates and to make sure you are part of the campaign.
✊ Holiday Pay Delayed is Holiday Pay Denied.
Barnet UNISON will continue to fight until staff are paid what they are owed.
End.
For immediate release Equal Pay Storm Builds in Barnet – Hundreds Join the Claim
Union says Barnet must follow other councils who’ve settled multimillion-pound Equal Pay cases
Barnet UNISON has confirmed that hundreds of council and school staff have already signed up to join its growing Equal Pay claim, as pressure mounts on the Council to follow the lead of other local authorities who have recently reached multi-million-pound settlements.
The branch reports an overwhelming response from members, with workers across the borough requesting UNISON visits to their schools, offices, and depots to sign up and protect their legal rights.
Recent settlements at Southampton City Council (£49.2 million) and Sheffield City Council (£36 million) have inspired Barnet staff to demand action on long-standing pay inequalities.
Branch Secretary of Barnet UNISON, said:
“The message from our members could not be clearer – if Southampton and Sheffield can settle, then so can Barnet.
Hundreds of mainly low-paid women have already joined this claim because they want fairness, respect, and justice. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, they shouldn’t have to fight to be paid equally for work of equal value.”
UNISON has announced weekly Equal Pay Surgeries every Tuesday in October at the Colindale UNISON Office, where members can get advice and complete their Equal Pay case forms.
The branch is calling on Barnet Council to work with the unions to reach a fair settlement and avoid a protracted legal battle.
UNISON added:
“Barnet workers have waited long enough. Our members are organised, determined, and ready to see this Equal Pay claim resolved.”
Notes to editors:
- The Southampton settlement (July 2025) involved 800 staff and was valued at £49.2 million.
- The Sheffield settlement (September 2025) involved 3,600 staff in 260 roles and was valued at £36 million.
- Barnet UNISON represents staff employed by Barnet Council, The Barnet Group (TBG), and Barnet Education & Learning Service (BELS).
📅 Equal Pay Surgeries: Every Tuesday in October
📍 UNISON Office, Colindale
📧 contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
ENDS