Schools – Barnet UNISON

School Meals Workers — UNISON Needs to Hear From You

8th June 2026 admin 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.

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).

Equal Pay Update 2026: Complete Your Case Form & Register for Our AGM (Tue 24 February, from 4pm)

9th January 2026 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Equal Pay, Local, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Happy New Year to all Barnet UNISON members.

We’re starting 2026 with real momentum on our Equal Pay campaign. More than 550 UNISON members have now completed the Equal Pay case form — an outstanding achievement and a strong sign of the collective determination of our membership.

But there is more to do.

To protect every member’s position and ensure nobody misses out, we need to make sure all eligible members complete the Equal Pay case form, even if you’re not sure whether the claim applies to you.

Why completing the case form matters

Many members have told us they didn’t think the Equal Pay issue applied to them. However, from conversations with hundreds of staff across the council and related workplaces, it’s clear that people’s roles, patterns of work, job histories, and pay arrangements can differ — and that can affect whether an Equal Pay claim applies.

Completing the case form ensures UNISON has the information needed to assess your situation properly and progress the case.

Is there a deadline?

There is no formal deadline at the moment.
However, that could change quickly, depending on how the process develops. The safest approach is: complete your case form as soon as possible.

Barnet UNISON AGM: Guest speaker on Equal Pay

To help members understand what Equal Pay claims can look like in practice — and what happens when they are resolved — we’re pleased to announce a guest speaker at our AGM:

Barnet UNISON AGM
Tuesday 24 February
From 4pm onwards
(Details of venue/online access will be confirmed in the registration information.)

Guest Speaker: David Hughes (Birmingham UNISON)

We will be joined by David Hughes, Birmingham UNISON and SGE representative for the West Midlands on UNISON’s Local Government Service Group.

David is one of many workers who benefited from the Equal Pay award in Birmingham, where thousands of council staff received payments. He will speak from direct experience about:

How Equal Pay claims are resolved
How payments are calculated and made
What members can expect during the process
A Q&A session so you can ask your questions directly

This is a valuable opportunity to hear first-hand from someone who has been through an Equal Pay process and received an Equal Pay payment.

What you need to do now (two actions)

✅ 1) Register for the AGM (required to attend)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barnet-unison-annual-general-meeting-2026-hybrid-tickets-1974770786582?aff=oddtdtcreator

✅ 2) To request your Equal Pay case form
Email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Need help?

If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, or you need support completing the case form, please contact Barnet UNISON and we will help.

Contact the branch at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Let’s keep the momentum going. Completing the case form and attending the AGM are two simple actions that strengthen our collective case and help ensure members don’t miss out.

In solidarity,

Barnet UNISON

End.

500+ Barnet workers take a stand for Equal Pay — and we’re just getting started

16th December 2025 admin Austerity, Equal Pay, Local, National, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Barnet UNISON has now collected over 500 Equal Pay claims from members working for London Borough of Barnet (LBB), The Barnet Group (TBG) and Barnet Education and Learning Skills (BELS).

That’s a major milestone — and it matters for one simple reason: when workers act together, we protect each other and we win change. Every new claim signed is another colleague saying: “I won’t be left behind. I won’t be short-changed. I’m standing up for what’s lawful and fair.”

Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair, said:
“Reaching 500 claims shows the strength of feeling among Barnet workers and the power of members standing together. Equal pay is a legal right — not a bonus and not a ‘nice to have’. This campaign is about fairness, dignity, and making sure people—especially those in undervalued roles—aren’t asked to carry on accepting less than they’re lawfully entitled to. If you haven’t submitted your form yet, please don’t wait: it takes less than 10 minutes, and Barnet UNISON will support you every step of the way.”

A growing campaign — powered by members

The momentum is building because more members are hearing the message, asking questions, and talking to colleagues at work. People are realising this isn’t “someone else’s issue” — it’s about protecting your rights and making sure you don’t miss out on what you may be owed under the law.

This campaign is about equal pay for work of equal value. Across local government and related employers, many roles dominated by women have historically been undervalued, while other roles have been rewarded differently — even where the work is comparable in responsibility, effort, skill, and impact. Equal Pay is not a favour. It’s a legal right.

Others are winning — and we can too

Across England and Wales, workers like us have been organising, submitting claims, and winning improved pay and compensation through equal pay campaigns. That’s not happening by accident — it’s happening because union members are doing exactly what Barnet UNISON members are doing now: getting informed, getting organised, and getting their paperwork in.

We’re building the same kind of strength here in Barnet: member by member, workplace by workplace, school by school.

Don’t miss out — act now

If you haven’t completed your case forms yet, this is your moment.

Please don’t lose out. Completing the forms takes less than 10 minutes, and it could make a real difference. Barnet UNISON can support you through the process — and we can also visit workplaces and schools to help members sign up and talk colleagues through it.

✅ To get support, just email: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Let’s keep building this campaign — and make sure nobody is left behind.

Complete your forms. Encourage a colleague. Protect your lawful rights.

End.

Barnet launches major Equal Pay action spanning council and LATCs — ‘EasyCouncil’ faces first London-wide test case

17th October 2025 admin Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, National, News, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

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.

For immediate release Equal Pay Storm Builds in Barnet – Hundreds Join the Claim

7th October 2025 admin Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, Membership, News, Schools, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

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

UNISON Equal Pay Claims Now Extended to The Barnet Group and BELS

8th August 2025 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, News, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Barnet UNISON has confirmed that our ongoing Equal Pay campaign, initially focused on London Borough of Barnet (LBB) staff, has now been extended to include our members working for The Barnet Group (TBG) and Barnet Education and Learning Skills (BELS) — both of which are Local Authority Trading Companies wholly owned by LBB.

The potential scale of the claim is significant:

London Borough of Barnet (including Community Schools): 2,700 staff
The Barnet Group: 900 staff
BELS: 250 staff

Not all of these employees will be claimants, but a substantial number could be affected.

UNISON has been at the forefront of local government equal pay claims for over a decade, securing millions in compensation for members across the UK. Our investigation in Barnet has identified practices — including the use of “task and finish” and bonus payments in Waste & Recycling — that are likely to give rise to Equal Pay claims with reasonable prospects of success.

In light of these findings, we are:

Urging all LBB members on Grades A to K to complete an Equal Pay case form.
Inviting all of our members from TBG and BELS to submit their Equal pay case forms.

To pursue a claim, members must complete the case form with details of their job role, grade, and dates of employment. If you have left or changed your role in the past six months, this must be made clear as Tribunal deadlines are strict.

Download the Equal Pay case form here:
Equal Pay Case Form – Barnet UNISON

Return completed forms to: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Barnet UNISON will lodge a collective grievance on behalf of claimants and begin the early conciliation process as the first step towards an Employment Tribunal claim. We will continue to engage constructively with LBB, TBG, and BELS to seek an industrial resolution wherever possible.

Ends

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

Barnet UNISON Launches Potential Equal Pay Claim on Behalf of its female members.

29th July 2025 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Libraries, Local, News, Schools, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Barnet UNISON is urging its female members in the London Borough of Barnet (LBB) to come forward as the union prepares to launch a collective legal challenge over potential equal pay breaches by the Council.

The move follows extensive investigations into pay practices within LBB, particularly in relation to the use of “task and finish” arrangements in the Waste & Recycling service. UNISON believes there is now sufficient evidence to support equal pay claims with reasonable prospects of success.

John Burgess, Branch Secretary of Barnet UNISON, said:

“The possibility that staff – the majority of whom are women – may have been underpaid for years is deeply concerning, especially in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Equal Pay is not just a legal right, it’s a fundamental matter of fairness. UNISON is committed to ensuring our members receive the pay they are legally and morally entitled to.”

The union is now asking affected members to complete an Equal Pay case form detailing their job roles, grades, and employment history. This information will allow UNISON to assess each claim and proceed with legal and procedural steps, including lodging a collective grievance and initiating early conciliation.

Barnet UNISON is also reminding staff of the strict six-month legal time limit for making an Equal Pay claim. Anyone who has recently left the Council or changed roles is urged to act quickly.

UNISON has led the fight for Equal Pay in local government for over a decade, winning millions in compensation for underpaid workers. The union will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with Barnet Council while preparing to take legal action where necessary.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Barnet UNISON at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED : Potential Equal Pay Claim

29th July 2025 admin Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Local, Membership, News, Schools, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

As you may be aware, there has been a lot of recent activity regarding potential equal pay claims in the London Borough of Barnet (LBB).

As the UK’s largest union, UNISON has led on equal pay within local government for over a decade and has recovered £millions in compensation for our members. We take the issue extremely seriously.

We appreciate that the prospect of being underpaid due to your gender in a cost-of-living crisis is especially emotive, however, Equal Pay legislation is complex, and UNISON has been carrying out investigations into a number of discriminatory pay practices that have been identified.

We wanted to understand the facts and consider the legal position so we can advise members appropriately. As a result of our investigations, we understand that in the Waste & Recycling service, the Council operates a practice of task and finish and has made bonus payments.

We are now satisfied that there is evidence that is likely to give rise to equal pay claims against LBB with reasonable prospects of success. This is of course dependent on your individual circumstances, and we will require members to complete case forms so that we can confirm whether your individual circumstances are captured within the potential claims we’ve identified. You must provide details of your job role, grade and dates of your employment.

If you have multiple job roles, we need this information for all of them. In order to pursue a claim, you can download an equal pay case form along with guidance on how to complete it.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025.07.28-Barnet-UNISON-Caseform-London-Borough-of-Barnet-updated-with-NI-number.docx

Please return your completed case form to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

at your earliest convenience.

In tandem with the legal process, we must also exhaust internal procedures by lodging collective grievance. Once we have received your case form, we will add your name to the collective grievance that we will send to the Council. In addition, we will shortly arrange to start early conciliation on your behalf. This is the pre-requisite to starting a Tribunal claim.

Please be aware of time limits. To pursue a claim for equal pay, the claim must be lodged in the Tribunal within 6 months less one day of the end of your employment or a change in your employment. If you have left the Council in the past 6 months, or if you have changed your role in the last 6 months, please make this clear on the case form.

Please be assured that we will continue to maintain a constructive dialogue with your employer and seek to resolve matters industrially, wherever possible.

We will also keep you updated as to the progress of any negotiations/claims whenever there are any significant developments.

End.

Breaking News: “Outsourcing Has Failed Our Children and Our Workers – Bring School Catering Back In-House Now”

18th July 2025 admin Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, News, Schools, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Barnet UNISON is calling on Barnet Council to end the failed outsourcing of school catering and bring the service back in-house.

At the upcoming Cabinet Committee meeting on 21 July 2025, Barnet Council will be asked to approve the continuation of an outsourced school meals contract. Barnet UNISON is demanding the Council reverse this recommendation and recognise the devastating impact outsourcing has had on schoolchildren, workers, and Barnet’s local economy.

John Burgess, Barnet UNISON Branch Secretary, said:
“For over a decade Barnet UNISON has warned of the dangers of outsourcing. Those warnings were ignored – and the result has been catastrophic. Low-paid Black women workers dismissed, children denied hot meals, and a kosher kitchen built with public money now left empty. Enough is enough.”

The Case Against Outsourcing:

❌ Children Left Without Hot Meals: Barnet pupils were denied nutritious school meals due to the collapse of the kosher meal service.
❌ Black Female Workers Dismissed: 41 Black catering staff lost their jobs when the kosher kitchen service collapsed. Only the trade union fought to secure their redundancy pay.
❌ Wasted Public Assets: Barnet now has a kosher kitchen standing idle – a visible symbol of outsourcing gone wrong.
❌ Poor Pay and No Pensions: Catering workers are excluded from the Local Government Pension Scheme and face poverty wages, resulting in reliance on housing benefits and in-work support – costs borne by the taxpayer.
❌ A False Economy: Barnet claims savings, but the reality is a transfer of cost from the Council to the welfare state, undermining long-term financial sustainability.

A Better Alternative: In-House Services

Barnet Council ran a successful in-house school catering service for decades. In 2014–15, it generated a £190,000 surplus. Schools had confidence in the service and trusted its quality and reliability.

There has been no serious financial modelling on bringing the service back in-house. Despite citing inflation and “market pressures,” the current Cabinet report presents no updated analysis of how in-house provision could now be rebuilt to meet modern needs.

Council Equality Commitments Undermined

Barnet Council’s corporate values include a commitment to equality and inclusion, yet outsourcing has overwhelmingly harmed Black, female, low-paid workers – a group protected under the Equality Act 2010.

“This decision contradicts the Council’s equality duties,”.

“How can you talk about inclusion while outsourcing continues to hurt the very communities you claim to support?”

Labour Party Policy Backs Our Call

Ending Outsourcing: Labour’s 2021 Conference endorsed the “biggest wave of insourcing in a generation,” including school services such as catering.
Tackling In-Work Poverty: Labour’s platform includes stronger rights at work, a real living wage, secure pensions, and an end to exploitative contracts.
Racial Justice at Work: Outsourcing has been shown to disproportionately harm Black workers. Labour-aligned campaigns highlight insourcing as a racial justice imperative.
Community Wealth Building: Labour supports local procurement and public ownership to retain wealth and secure good jobs in our communities.

Continuing to outsource the school meals contract undermines Labour values in one of the most diverse boroughs in the UK.

UNISON Demands: