Category: Local

Branch campaigns

Holiday Pay — Member Update

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.

 

School Meals Workers — UNISON Needs to Hear From You

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

June 2026

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

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

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

But I need to hear from you.

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

Please get in touch and let me know:

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

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

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

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

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

Not yet a UNISON member?

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

End.

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

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


    

  1. Barnet UNISON is the UNISON branch for workers employed by the London Borough of Barnet, The Barnet Group and Barnet Education and Learning Skills.
    2. 

  2. 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.
    3. 

  3. UNISON’s equal pay claims were lodged with the Employment Tribunal in November and December 2025.
    4. 

  4. 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.
    5. 

  5. Claims against The Barnet Group and Barnet Education and Learning Skills are not subject to the stay and are being actively progressed.
    6. 

  6. 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).
    7. 


			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
CAPITA CONTRACT ENDING — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Insourcing, Local, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


CAPITA CONTRACT ENDING — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW


I want to let you know that the Capita contract with the London Borough of Barnet is coming to an end. New providers will be taking over a range of services from 1 October 2026.


I am currently in discussions with LBB management about what this means in practice — for services, for staffing, and for you as UNISON members. I will update you as things become clearer, but I didn’t want to wait until everything was finalised before making contact.


WHAT IS TUPE AND DOES IT APPLY TO ME?


The process that will apply to most of you is called TUPE — Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment Regulations). In plain terms, this is the legal framework that is supposed to protect your job and your terms and conditions when a service changes hands. I will be involved in that process on your behalf.


But I can only do that job properly if I know who you are, what you’re doing, and what your current situation is.


I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY


Here’s the problem — our records may not be up to date. Some of you will have changed roles, moved to a different service area, or had changes to your terms and conditions since you left LBB. We may not have your current contact details.


If I’m going into bat for members in a TUPE process, I need accurate information, not outdated records.


Please email me directly at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk and let me know:


    

  • What is your current job title?
    
• Which service area are you working in (e.g. Customer Services, Revenues and Benefits, IT, Payroll)?
    
• Have your terms and conditions changed since you were with LBB — pay, leave, sick pay, anything?
    
• Are you still in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)?
    
• Have you moved address, or have your personal contact details changed?
    
• Do you have any concerns or issues you want to flag to me now?
    • 



Please don’t assume someone else will pick this up. I need to hear from you individually.


IF YOU ARE WORRIED — CONTACT ME NOW


If there are things already worrying you — about your job, your pension, what happens next — tell me now. This is exactly the time to raise it, not after transfer letters have landed.


I will be in touch again as things develop. In the meantime, my door is open.


You can contact me at: Email: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk


In solidarity,


John

Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
CLIVE LEWIS MP BACKS BARNET’S CLEANERS IN FIGHT AGAINST NORFOLK-OWNED CONTRACTOR
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Insourcing, Local, London Living Wage, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Norwich South MP writes to Norfolk County Council demanding action over Norse Group’s 12-day pay lag


Barnet UNISON has welcomed the intervention of Clive Lewis MP, Member of Parliament for Norwich South, who has written to Norfolk County Council demanding it use its ownership powers to force Norse Group to pay its lowest-paid workers on time.


Read letter to Leader of Norfolk Council RE Norse Group Clive Lewis MP


https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26-06-04-Letter-to-Leader-of-Norfolk-Council-RE-Norse-Group-Clive-Lewis-MP.pdf


Norse Group — the largest Local Authority Trading Company in the country, wholly owned by Norfolk County Council — operates the cleaning contract for the London Borough of Barnet. The company imposes a pay arrangement that forces cleaners to wait 12 days after completing every four-week working period before receiving their wages. Norse’s own pay schedule confirms the 12-day gap applies to every single pay period throughout the year without exception.


These are London Living Wage workers in one of the most expensive cities in the world. At any given moment, Norse holds approximately six weeks’ worth of earned wages belonging to its lowest-paid staff.


Clive Lewis MP wrote to the Leader of Norfolk County Council stating:


“The lowest-paid workers on the contract are subsidising Norse’s payroll operation with 12 days of their earned wages per period. That is not an ethical business model, and it is not consistent with the values that a publicly owned company ought to embody.”


His letter directly challenges Norse’s claim that the arrangement is required for HMRC compliance, calling it a commercial and administrative choice rather than a legal requirement, and rejects the company’s suggestion that workers should take credit union loans to bridge the gap as “an indictment of the arrangement.”


Helen Davies, Branch Chair of Barnet UNISON & UNISON SGE rep for London Region, said:


“We are grateful to Clive Lewis for acting quickly and decisively. He has gone straight to the heart of the matter — Norse is owned by Norfolk County Council, and the Council cannot wash its hands of responsibility for how this company treats its workers. Norfolk created Norse, Norfolk owns Norse, and Norfolk receives an annual dividend from Norse. The workers making that dividend possible deserve to be paid on time.


“We now call on Norfolk County Council to respond without delay and direct Norse to change this arrangement — not just for our members in Barnet, but for all 1,725 Norse employees across the country subject to the same pay lag.”


Barnet UNISON has also written to all 31 Barnet Labour Councillors, the four Barnet Labour MPs, and Green Councillor Charli Thompson calling for urgent intervention and a commitment to bring the cleaning contract back in-house when it expires in 2027.


The Barnet UNISON petition calling on Norse to pay workers on time and for the cleaning service to be insourced in 2027 remains open.


✅ Sign the petition: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/pay-barnet-s-cleaners-on-time-and-bring-cleaning-back-in-house?source=rawlink&utm_source=rawlink&share=67ca7052-c387-43a8-bd8f-201c05771705


ENDS


For media enquiries contact: Barnet UNISON contactus@barnetunison.org.uk


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Barnet UNISON condemns “back door privatisation” of Passenger Escort service and escalates dispute to meeting with Chief Executive
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Insourcing, Local, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Barnet UNISON condemns “back door privatisation” of Passenger Escort service and escalates dispute to meeting with Chief Executive


Barnet UNISON has escalated its concerns about the future of Passenger Escorts at Barnet Council after formally registering a failure to agree with management.


The union says the Council has been cutting directly employed Passenger Assistant posts and using external provision instead, without proper transparency or meaningful consultation with UNISON.


Management have confirmed that vacancies were not being refilled and that part of the service requirement was being met through externally commissioned Passenger Assistants. Barnet UNISON says this amounts to back door privatisation of a vital frontline service supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.


The union has now referred the matter to the Joint Negotiation and Consultation Group, where it will be raised with the Chief Executive.


A Barnet UNISON spokesperson said:


“We have had enough outsourcing in Barnet. We are opposed to back door privatisation and we do not accept low-paid women being made to carry the burden of yet more austerity and hardship.


This is happening in the middle of the worst cost of living crisis in a lifetime, in one of the most expensive cities in the world. It is wrong.


Passenger Escorts do difficult, responsible and essential work supporting children with special needs. They deserve decent pay, decent terms and conditions, access to a pension, proper training, proper management support and the security of direct employment by the Council.


Barnet UNISON has formally escalated this matter to a meeting with the Chief Executive because council jobs should stay council jobs. We will not stand by while low-paid frontline services are hollowed out by stealth.”


Barnet UNISON is calling on Barnet Council to:


    

  • provide a full and accurate breakdown of the current Passenger Assistant workforce across the service, including how many are directly employed by LBB, how many are agency, and how many are employed by contractors or commissioned providers
    • 

  • stop any further erosion of directly employed Passenger Assistant posts
    • 

  • begin recruiting Passenger Escorts directly to Barnet Council posts rather than relying on agency or external arrangements
    • 

  • return Passenger Escorts to direct management under the Passenger Transport Service
    • 

  • ensure Passenger Escorts have decent pay, decent terms and conditions, pension access, proper training and proper support to carry out this essential role
    • 



Barnet UNISON says the issue is not just about staffing numbers. It is about fairness, accountability and the future of public services in Barnet.


Ends


For media enquiries contact: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

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

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
TBG rejects UNISON cost-of-living claims for housing and care workers
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Insourcing, Local, News, Pensions, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Employer admits financial pressure — but refuses pay, terms and LGPS improvements for Barnet Homes and Your Choice Barnet staff.


Barnet UNISON has received The Barnet Group’s formal response to our pay, terms and pension claims for workers in Barnet Homes (housing services) and Your Choice Barnet (adult social care). The headline is clear: TBG has rejected the claims.


These are frontline workers keeping essential services running in one of the most expensive cities in the world — supporting vulnerable adults, dealing with housing pressures, and carrying rising workloads. UNISON submitted the claims because members are being squeezed hard by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and years of pay falling behind real living costs.


Key points from TBG’s response


    

  • TBG says Your Choice Barnet is forecasting a £824k loss this year and will have negative retained earnings rising to £2.048m.
    • 

  • TBG says Barnet Homes’ management fee will be cut by £2.763m (6%) from April 2026, and argues this limits what it can agree.
    • 

  • TBG has costed the key parts of the union claim and still concludes it is “not able to agree”.
    • 

  • Their own figures show a £15/hour minimum for Barnet Homes would cost £14,150 and affect 27 staff — yet they still refuse the claim overall.
    • 



Helen Davies, Barnet UNISON Branch Chair and UNISON SGE rep, said:


“Our members are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are the housing workers and care staff holding services together every day. TBG’s response is basically ‘we can’t’ — while staff are being asked to cope with rising prices and worsening pressure at work. That’s not good enough. If these services matter, the workforce has to be treated with basic fairness: decent pay, decent terms, and a proper pension.”


What happens next


Barnet UNISON will now consult members on the employer’s response and the next steps in our campaign.


Read TBG full response here: https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026.03.24-TBG-response-to-Barnet-UNISON-Cost-of-Living-Crisis-claims.pdf


 


End.

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Update on Pay Negotiations with TBG
		
		
 
	
		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.


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
End of an Era: Barnet UNISON Calls for Revenues & Benefits to Be Brought Back In-House as Capita Era Closes
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Insourcing, Local, National, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Barnet UNISON has today called on Barnet Council’s Cabinet Committee to seize what it describes as a “historic moment” for the borough by bringing the Revenues & Benefits service back under direct council control.


After 13 years of Capita delivering major council services under the previous Conservative administration’s One Barnet outsourcing programme, the remaining contracts are now approaching expiry in September 2026.


“This is the end of an era in Barnet,” said John Burgess, Branch Secretary of Barnet UNISON.

“For 13 years the Council has relied on a mass outsourcing model. It has been controversial, heavily scrutinised and widely debated. Now Members have the opportunity to take a different direction.”


The Cabinet Committee on 24 February is being asked to approve steps that would allow new outsourced contracts to be awarded for the remaining services, including Revenues & Benefits — the service responsible for Council Tax and Business Rates collection and key elements of income recovery.


Barnet UNISON’s report argues that Revenues & Benefits is too fundamental to the Council’s financial resilience and too central to residents’ lives to sit outside direct public control.


“This is not a back-office technical function,” Burgess said.

“It is the service that determines how council income is secured and how arrears are managed. It affects every household in Barnet. Decisions about income collection and recovery should be democratically accountable — not managed through contract monitoring and improvement plans.”


The union’s submission highlights that council reports continue to reference collection pressures and governance mechanisms to manage risk. Barnet UNISON argues that monitoring contractors is not the same as having direct operational control over a core sovereign income function.


“After 13 years, this is the moment to draw a line under One Barnet,” Burgess added.

“Labour now has the opportunity to restore direct council control over a vital public service and demonstrate that public income functions belong in the public sector.”


Barnet UNISON is urging Cabinet Committee to:


    

  • Reject further outsourcing of Revenues & Benefits
    • 

  • Instruct officers to prepare an in-house delivery plan
    • 

  • Confirm that income generation and recovery policy should sit directly within the Council
    • 



“This decision will shape Barnet for years to come,” Burgess said.

“We believe this is the right moment to bring Revenues & Benefits home.”


ENDS


 

			

		

		
		


	

			  

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