Category: Trades Dispute

Barnet UNISON NSL meeting Thurs 28 November 6.30 pm.

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, News, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

Dear NSL members

Barnet Council has decided to go out to the market to ask for contractors to bid to deliver the parking enforcement service.

This will involve contractors submitting their bids to deliver the parking enforcement service for London Borough of Barnet.

Barnet UNISON has organised the first of a number of UNISON NSL members meetings in order we can discuss what action can be taken by members

The UNISON NSL meeting is on Thursday 28 November 6.30-7 pm

This is the link for the meeting.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87371964533?pwd=3bgMyAzDbHrvqAWofce8Mv83c7Zysx.1

Many of our members will be aware of the Camden UNISON NSL members who have won two successful pay claims. They have won these pay claims by acting together. They agreed a proposal which was submitted to NSL and rejected. UNISON members voted for strike action, and they took strike action on both occasions their strike action was successful.

We are going to invite someone from Camden UNISON to speak at our meeting.

Barnet UNISON has along track record of backing our members who have wanted to take strike action. That same support is being offered to our NSL members if we are not able to secure better pay for our members.

Your local reps are working with me to develop a plan to campaign for parking enforcement to come back inhouse, but it also needs members to become involved.

Please look out for future communications from Barnet UNISON. We will produce a leaflet for the meeting on Thursday 28 November meeting. Please help publicise and recruit members as this is the only way to make change in the workplace.

Solidarity

John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.

 

Barnet Council interim Chief Executive responds to UNISON members on grading dispute.

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, News, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

Brief history to this grading dispute.

On 25 April 2024 at the formal meeting with the former Chief Executive in the JNCG about the agreement to move grades A to E starting from 1 April 2024. It was agreed that Barnet Council would update UNISON on this matter in a few days.

It is worth noting in January 2024 when the trade unions were informed that Chief Executive and Director of Resources had agreed to the changes and payment from 1 April 2024, we were told that implementation would not take place until September due to concerns about Oracle, but we were assured that the payments would be backdated to 1 April 2024.

In March 2024, Barnet Council HR informed Head Teachers of the proposals to move their staff on Grades A-E. Feedback from Head Teachers was that they were supportive of this decision.

On 19 July 2024 the trade unions were formally notified that there would be a delay and the Council “would be in a position to implement changes to grades A-E towards the end of this calendar year.”

On 16 September 2024 at a formal meeting with the interim Chief Executive UNISON was informed that Barnet Council would not be able to fund this proposal and that it would not be backdated.

Barnet Council stated they want the implementation date to be from 1st April 2025 they went on to say they were waiting to hear of local government finance settlement before categorically 100% confirming this.  If the budget on 30th Oct was bad news for local government financing, then this date cannot be guaranteed adding that once the budget for 25/26 is set, a firm implementation date will be confirmed with trade unions.

Following this meeting UNISON organised workplace meetings of our members which led to members submitting signed collective letters requesting that the decision not to implement from 1 April 2024 be reconsidered.

  • On 23 September 2024 UNISON emailed to signed letters from hundreds of our members asking the interim chief executive to reconsider.
  • On 17 October UNISON emailed the interim chief executive if they were going to respond to staff.
  • On 18 October the interim chief executive emailed UNISON to say they were speaking with Executive Director of Environment and proposed that the communication would be sent at the end of the month.
  • On 18 October UNISON confirmed that would work as we had a mass meeting of members on 6 November 2024.
  • On Wednesday 6 November 2024 UNISON attended a mass meeting of members where they confirmed that they had not received any communication from you.

At that meeting our members were clearly upset over the handling of this matter and requested that UNISON record a trade dispute over failure to honour an agreement to implement the uplift from the 1 April 2024.

On 6 November UNISON emailed the interim chief executive formally registering a dispute adding that UNISON was still open to meetings to find a resolution, but confirming that we are now beginning UNISON’s internal processes for applying for an industrial action ballot

Late on Friday 8 November 2024 UNISON received the following memo which we are sharing as a hard copy and via email to our members to read and report back to our next mass meeting on Wednesday 4 December 2024, 1st Floor in new building at the following times.

  • 5.45-6.15 am
  • 6.30- 7 am


PLEASE READ MEMO FROM INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE BY CLICKING ON LINK BELOW.


https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/241108-GradesA2E-LetterResponse-CS.pdf




End.


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
32 – Another mental health social worker resignation at Barnet Council
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, News, Recruitment, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Firstly, Community Care magazine published another excellent article on the ongoing mental health social worker dispute.


You can read the article here.


‘We walked out for 81 days and the service is as unsafe as it was before’


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/10/21/we-walked-out-for-81-days-and-the-service-is-as-unsafe-as-it-was-before/


See some of the quotes below


‘We walked out for 81 days and the service is as unsafe as it was before’ (former Barnet Council mental health social worker). 


“We walked out for 81 days and it made no difference. They aren’t listening to us. It’s as dangerous a service as it was when the dispute started.”


“Coming back after strike, the management don’t acknowledge it, we raise problems and they just don’t go anywhere,” says another social worker.


“My concern is, how can I practise safely as a social worker? I really can’t do a proper job. It’s just so frustrating.”


 “I’m not leaving because of the strike, I’m leaving because, through the strike, it’s become very apparent that nothing is going to get any better, as they don’t seem to value our opinion or our feedback.”




The reporting on the feedback is accurate. It is important the reasons for the exodus of social workers is recorded publicly. For some reason senior officers of the London Borough of Barnet have been ‘doubling down’ in their responses to social workers leaving. Both in meetings with senior managers and in exit interviews our members have been very clear why they have left, yet senior management is promoting a “nothing to see here, please move along” position to all press enquiries.


Feedback from our members is that morale is at rock bottom and it is highly likely more staff will be leaving as soon as they have secured their own escape plan.


The tragedy is that we are talking about mental health services. Last year the Guardian newspaper quoted hospital bosses: “Mental healthcare in England is a national emergency” https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/oct/09/mental-healthcare-in-england-is-a-national-emergency-say-hospital-bosses


Over a decade of underfunding alongside increasing numbers of people needing mental health services has devasted the workplace and services.


Earlier this month a major strike took place, “Nurses are among a group of mental health workers in Manchester who are striking today over “unsafe” staffing levels.”


“Unison North West regional organiser Paddy Cleary said: “These early intervention mental health workers take their duties seriously, but heavy workloads, insufficient funding and unsafe staffing levels have left them with no choice but to strike.”


https://www.nursingtimes.net/mental-health/manchester-mental-health-staff-strike-over-unsafe-staffing-16-10-2024/




Back here in Barnet the indifference being shown by senior officers to the huge turnover of both permanent and agency social workers is nothing short of scandalous. Each time someone leaves it means another relationship has ended for the service user. The other worrying fact is that senior management does not appear concerned that they are unable to recruit experienced mental health social workers. They are reliant on bringing in social workers with no experience of working in mental health or taking on former student social workers with little or no experience of working with service users with complex mental health needs.


“Barnet UNISON has been clear since the beginning of this dispute on 1 September 2023, that we will not tolerate our members working in an unsafe workplace. It is bad for staff and bad for service users. We understand why social workers have left and are planning to leave. Barnet Council mental health social work teams were once a trail blazing service for crisis work. Today it is a service that is out of control and the worst part is that as our members have said ‘they don’t seem to value our opinion or our feedback’.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary Barnet UNISON.


End.


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Big solidarity from Jim Morris Knight, UNISON representative of the environment agencies on water, environment and transport.
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, News, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Introduction. 


Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.


We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.


When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.


Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON mental health social worker strikers.




 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Jordan Rivera UNISON NEC rep for NHS workers sends solidarity message to our mental health social workers strikers
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Introduction. 


Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.


We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.


When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.


Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON strikers.



			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
John McDonnell MP backing our mental health social worker strikers
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Introduction.


Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.


We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.


When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.


Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON strikers.



			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Liz Wheatley UNISON NEC rep for London sending solidarity to our mental health social workers strikers
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Local, News, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Introduction.


Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.


We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.


When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.


Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON strikers.




 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Gaby Lawler UNISON SGE rep for London sending another message of support to our mental health social worker strikers
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Introduction.


Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.


We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.


When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.


Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON strikers.




 


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Big Thanks to Libby Nolan former #UNISON President
		
		
 
	
		Health and Safety, Local, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Introduction.


Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.


We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.


When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.


Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON strikers.




Big Thanks to Libby Nolan former #UNISON President and #UNISON NEC rep for showing ongoing solidarity with our Barnet UNISON mental health social workers


400 days since the dispute first began. 81 days of strike action.


Shame on @BarnetCouncil


#UnsafeWorkplace



			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Press Release: Mass exodus of mental health social workers risks total collapse of services.
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, News, Recruitment, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Barnet UNISON mental health social workers dispute with Barnet Council since 1 September 2023 has been over the failure to agree a recruitment and retention payment due to high turnover of staff across three mental health social worker teams.


On Monday 15 July 2024 UNISON wrote to Barnet Council suspending strike action and agreeing to go into talks to try and resolve the dispute.


Unfortunately talks broke down as it became clear in the meeting that Barnet Council was not prepared to reconsider their position.


The following facts provide a glimpse of the scale of the crisis facing Barnet Council.


    

  • 50% of the permanent workforce will have left one of the three mental health social work team workforce since 1 January 2024.
    • 

  • 31 mental health social workers will have left one of the three mental health social work teams in the last two years.
    • 

  • 12 mental health social workers have left the mental health social work team North in the last two years.
    • 

  • 19 mental health social workers have left the mental health social work team South in the last two years.
    • 

  • Did you know that 40% of AMHPs have left the AMHP team in the last two months.
    • 

  • 100% of AMHPs across the North and South mental health teams resigned and left the Council by the end of August 2024.
    • 

  • In July 2023 Barnet Council informed UNISON that they had a budget of £266k to resolve this dispute.
    • 

  • In a meeting with Acas in March 2024 with UNISON they doubled their budget to £532k.
    • 

  • It would cost £150k to settle this dispute
    • 



You can read more facts about this dispute here on our website http://All you need to know about Barnet UNISON mental health social worker strike https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/09/04/all-you-need-to-know-about-barnet-unison-mental-health-social-worker-strike/


 


At our last meeting with Barnet Council our reps informed senior management that they were leaving because it had become clear that Barnet Council does not value their staff or service users. Our members strongly believe that it is not safe to practice as a mental health social worker in the three frontline mental health teams.


“It has become apparently clear that Barnet Council has chosen confrontation rather than negotiation to resolve this high-profile dispute. It is not about the money because we know there is a pot three times bigger than what would be needed to bring this dispute to a close. The sheer scale of the numbers of social workers leaving these three teams should have set alarm bells ringing with senior management. The fact that they appear unconcerned about the risks of the chronic levels of turnover has left mental health social workers feeling deeply unsafe. We still have some members who are currently still working but feeling very scared about what could happen in terms of risks. Failure to end this dispute will leave Barnet Council exposed as an uncaring and unsafe workplace for mental health social workers. 


I have recently reached out to the Chief Executive and Leader of Barnet Council to come back with a revised offer which may be able to retain some of the current staff and encourage experienced mental health social workers to come and work for Barnet.


Until there is a credible offer the Barnet UNISON mental health social worker dispute remains live and we will continue to report on the dispute. It is our duty to advocate for a safe working environment for our members and no one will silence our voice for our members.” (John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON). 


 


Notes to Editors.


Contact details: Barnet UNISON branch on 0208 359 2088 to leave a message on our voicemail or email: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk


Background: 


1. ‘It’s Soul Destroying’: Why Barnet Social Workers Are on Strike.


https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/06/its-soul-destroying-why-barnet-social-workers-are-on-strike


2. Euphoria felled by reality and scant ambition – I have seen what could be Labour’s future | Aditya Chakrabortty | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/02/euphoria-reality-labour-future-thatcher-tory


3. Mental health social workers consider striking over staffing levels. 20 June 2023


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/06/20/mental-health-social-workers-consider-striking-over-staffing-levels/


4. Strike ballot opens for mental health social workers. 8 August 2023.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/08/08/strike-ballot-opens-for-mental-health-social-workers/


5. Mental health social workers vote to strike over ‘chronic staffing issues’ 6 September 2023.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/09/06/mental-health-social-workers-vote-to-strike-over-chronic-staffing-issues/


6. Social workers to take 26 days’ further strike action in pay and staffing dispute.26 October 2023.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/10/26/social-workers-to-take-26-days-further-strike-action-in-pay-and-staffing-dispute/


7. Inside a social work strike: the staff fighting for a ‘safe service’ 31 October 2023.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/10/31/inside-a-social-work-strike-the-staff-fighting-for-a-safe-service/


8.Social workers re-balloted on striking after 27 days of action leaves pay dispute unresolved. 18 February 2024.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/02/18/social-workers-re-balloted-on-striking-after-27-days-of-action-leaves-pay-dispute-unresolved/


9. Social workers to take nine more weeks of strike action as talks fail to resolve dispute.


8 March 2024.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/03/08/social-workers-to-take-nine-more-weeks-of-strike-action-as-talks-fail-to-resolve-dispute/


10. Firm pulls out of providing service for council that union claims would have broken social work strike. 17 April 2024


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/04/17/firm-pulls-out-of-providing-service-for-council-that-union-claims-would-have-broken-social-work-strike/


11. Social workers reject council offer to settle dispute after more than 40 days of strike action. 16 May 2024.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/16/social-workers-reject-council-offer-to-settle-dispute-after-more-than-40-days-of-strike-action/


12. Social workers escalate dispute with nine-week walkout. 17 May 2024


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/17/social-workers-escalate-dispute-with-nine-week-walkout/


13. Council to buy in service to cover social workers during 9-week strike. 21 May 2024.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/21/council-to-buy-in-service-to-cover-social-workers-during-9-week-strike/


14. Union threatens court action over council plan to cover social work strike.


24 May 2024


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/24/union-threatens-court-action-over-council-plan-to-cover-social-work-strike/


15. Council outsources mental health service to cover social work strike 10 June 2024.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/06/10/council-outsources-mental-health-service-to-cover-social-work-strike/


16. Mental health social workers pose greatest recruitment and retention challenge for adults’ services. 25 June 2024.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/06/25/mental-health-social-workers-pose-greatest-recruitment-and-retention-challenge-for-adults-services/


17. Mental health social workers return to work after nine-week strike 16 July 2024


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/07/16/mental-health-social-workers-return-to-work-after-nine-week-strike/


18. ****This is where it all began in Barnet Council in 2016****


Council sheds qualified social worker posts to save money. 22 November 2016.


https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2016/11/22/council-sheds-qualified-social-worker-posts-save-money/


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