Category: Local

Branch campaigns

Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers

Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Health and Safety, Local, News, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

25 August 2022.

On Thursday 25 August our Council Housing Repairs members are being balloted for strike action after talks broke down yesterday.

Their employer is called Barnet Homes, which is part of The Barnet Group, which is 100% owned by Barnet Council.

The reason for the strike is the refusal of the employer to pay sick pay to a worker who injured himself at work.

The worker is a low paid manual worker. We are not talking big money here.

The principle is an important one. When a worker is injured at work they should be in receipt of sick pay. The fact that we are in the middle of the biggest cost of living crisis in 75 years makes the decision of the employer not to pay is not just wrong but cruel.

Barnet UNISON had conducted an indicative ballot which generated a 100% turnout and a 100% vote for strike if our member is not given sick pay.

In the talks the employer seemed oblivious to the terror the cost-of-living crisis is having on their low paid staff.

We will continue to keep the door open to resolve this dispute, but the ballot has started and is due end 15 September, which means there is still time for the employer to do the right thing.

As “The Barnet Group” are owned by Barnet Council, Barnet UNISON will now escalate to Barnet Council and Barnet Labour Party to try to secure an end to this dispute.

End.

Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk

Background:

Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/05/barnet-responsive-repairs-workers-referred-to-unisons-industrial-action-committee/

Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/21/barnet-council-repairs-operatives-100-turnout-and-100-vote-for-strike-action/

Barnet Council’s Company Refuse to Show Compassion for Injured Worker https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/barnet-councils-company-refuse-to-show-compassion-for-injured-worker/

 

 

 

Why we must fight for a Pay rise and not a Pay cut.

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, National, News, Schools, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Barnet UNISON reps at our Branch Executive meeting agreed that Barnet UNISON would make a recommendation to our members to reject the Employers offer.

Below are some of the reasons why we have taken this position.

  • Local Government Pay has fallen by 27.5% since 2010 because of 12 years of Tory Austerity Pay Cuts.
  • The latest offer is another Pay cut not a Pay rise.
  • The Tories Austerity Policy is to make us all poorer.

Politicians claim there is no magic money tree

  • Shell made record profits of nearly £10bn between April and June
  • BT Group announced profits £400 million in the first quarter of this year.
  • BT made “1.3 billion and gave £750 million to shareholders.
  • British Gas owner Centrica profits increased fivefold by 411% to £1.3 billion as our energy bills continue to soar.
  • BT CEO Philip Jansen earned a total of £3,460,000 up 32% from the £2,628,000 he received in 2021.
  • Railways made £5 billion in profit last year.

What Tory Austerity Policies are doing to us.

  • UK households face annual energy bills of £3,850, this has tripled since the start of 2022.
  • Household energy bills £500 a month.
  • 5.8 million people in England, Scotland and Wales, both in and out of work – 40% of universal credit claimants are workers.
  • 5 million people in the UK lived in food poverty between 2019 – 2020.
  • Workers are turning to food banks because they don’t have enough money.
  • Foodbanks are running out of food because they can’t cope with the demand.
  • School support staff are missing meals in order they can feed their own children at home.

What can we do?

Barnet UNISON members are going to carry out a National Pay survey. It is important that every single member completes the survey and posts it back. First, we need over 50% of members to vote in the survey. Second, we want most of those voting to Vote Reject.  “UK inflation could reach 15% by start of 2023, experts say” Every month inflation rises makes this offer worse for more of our members.

Barnet UNISON will issue the National Pay survey on Thursday 1 September until 5pm, Friday 16 September.

Members will receive an email with a link to the survey. Those with no access to email will receive a hard copy survey.

End.

Barnet Security Guards not being paid correctly: Now resolved.

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, News, UNISON Campaign

Several weeks ago, Barnet UNISON became aware our outsourced Security UNISON members who work for Blue Nine Security were not being paid the correct London Living Wage. The new rate is £11.05 an hour.

After speaking with the contractor and Barnet Council we can confirm that our outsourced Security UNISON members are now being paid correctly and the backdating is in the process of being paid.

Word spread of our actions, and more security workers are joining Barnet UNISON.

Our next task is to support our members by building an insourcing campaign back into Barnet Council for these key workers.

End.

Your Pay: The Tories Austerity Robbery

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, National, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

This information is for all Barnet Council staff who are on Unified Reward Terms and Conditions.

To find out how much money that you have lost because of the Tories Austerity Robbery you need to know which Grade you are on.

If you don’t know what grade you are on, please contact your line manager. If you are experiencing problems finding out this information, please leave a message on the UNISON voicemail on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Grade A: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5%. What that means for a Grade A worker is that instead of earning £22,575 a year you should be on £28,783 which means the Tories have robbed you of £6,208

Grade B: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5% what that means for a Grade B worker is that instead of earning £23,400 a year you should be on £29,835 which means the Tories have robbed you of £6,435

Grade C: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5% what that means for a Grade C worker is that instead of earning £24,243 a year you should be on £30,910 which means the Tories have robbed you of £6,667

Grade D: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5% what that means for a is that for a Grade D worker instead of earning £25,128 a year you should be on £32,038 which means the Tories have robbed you of £6,910

Grade E: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5% what that means for a Grade E worker is that instead of earning £26,508 a year you should be on £33,798 which means the Tories have robbed you of £7,290

Grade F: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5% what that means for a Grade F worker is that instead of earning £29,502 a year you should be on £37,615 which means the Tories have robbed you of £8,113

Grade G: The Tories have held back your pay by 27.5% what that means for a Grade G worker is that instead of earning £32,988 a year you should be on £42,060 which means the Tories have robbed you of £9,072

If you have any questions or queries, please leave a voicemail on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

End.

Barnet Outreach workers 88% turnout and a100% vote for strike action.

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Local, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign

“We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now, all we are asking for is fairness and respect, equal treatment like our colleagues, it is not too much to ask.” (Barnet Outreach worker)

“Happy employees = successful organisation.  Let’s do the things right” (Barnet Outreach worker)

We noted a discrepancy in pay between new starters and staff who were TUPE transferred across in 2019.

New starters are paid significantly higher (around 10% higher) than the TUPE’d staff.

We noted that the message this gives longstanding staff is that they are worth less than the new starters and also noted that if all of them resigned from their role then they would have to be hired at the new rate of pay.

TBG is undertaking an exercise to re-evaluate the roles of the TUPE’d staff but this work may only be completed by the end of July. At the time of the Emergency JNCC we did not receive a commitment to backdate any such re-evaluation to 1st July (the date the new starters began).

Trades Dispute: Failure to agree to aligning the wages of workers in Outreach Barnet with a backdate to 1st July.

‘We are already swamped in Housing Options with our caseloads, but without the great work of Outreach Barnet, we simply wouldn’t be able to cope, they make a real difference to vulnerable peoples lives.’ (Housing Options worker)

‘Barnet Outreach workers provide a service that is essential to our most vulnerable tenants to help them sustain their tenancies.’ (Sheltered Housing worker)

Barnet UNISON carried out its own consultative strike ballot.

Indicative Ballot result

Returned Ballot – 88%

Vote for strike action – 100%

Barnet UNISON has reiterated that we are still open for talks. We have agreed to a meeting on Wednesday 27 July 2022 where we hope commonsense will prevail to avoid strike action. However, because of the outcome of our consultative ballot we will be submitting our Industrial Action request to UNISON London region next week.

End.

Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk

Background:

Out of Touch Barnet for Outreach Barnet Workers!

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/out-of-touch-barnet-for-outreach-barnet-workers/

What does #Caxit mean for Barnet UNISON members working for Capita?

Austerity, Local, UNISON Campaign

On Tuesday 19 July 2022, Barnet Council decided to let Capita Re (a Joint venture with Barnet Council)  expire at the end of the 10 year contract.

View Barnet Council report here https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s73533/Review%20of%20Capita%20Contracts.pdf

This means staff working for the following services will be coming back in-house to Barnet Council

  • Regulatory Services: (Environmental Health, Trading and Licensing Services, Pest Control)
  • Regeneration
  • Highways
  • Cemetery and Crematorium
  • Land Charges
  • Building Control
  • Planning and Development.

The second Capita contract is known as CSG, and it provides back-office services.

The following services are to return in-house

  • Estates (including Print)
  • Welfare Team
  • Procurement

The following services are being extended:

IT, Customer Services and Revs & Bens extended 2 years 7 months to March 20226

HR Payroll and Finance 1 year extension to 31 August 2024.

Key TUPE transfer dates for staff.

31 August 2023 for Estates (including Print) into Barnet Council.

30 September 2023 for all services in Re (see above) into Barnet Council.

31 August 2024 for HR/Core HR and Accounts Payable/Integra *

31 March 2026 for IT, Customer Services and Revs and Bens *

*Please note no decision has been made as to whether staff working in these services will come back in-house. Barnet UNISON has written to the Chief Executive to ask why they are not coming back in-house and when a decision will be made as to who will deliver these services after the contract expires.

End.

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Barnet cleaners not being paid correctly: Now resolved

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, UNISON Campaign

Several weeks ago, Barnet UNISON became aware our outsourced cleaners who work for Norse Cleaning were not being paid the correct London Living Wage. The new rate is £11.05 an hour.

After speaking with the contractor and Barnet Council we cannot confirm that our cleaners are now being paid correctly and the backdating has been paid.

Word spread of our actions, and cleaners are joining Barnet UNISON.

Our next task is to support our members by building an insourcing campaign back into Barnet Council for these key workers.

 

End.

Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.

Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Health and Safety, Housing, Local, News, Repairs, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

“We worked through Covid, we were clapped and applauded by everyone for the essential Public Service we give to the Public, our reward? To be treated like this!” (Repairs worker).

“Barnet Councils Local Authority Trading Company, The Barnet Group, won’t even give sick pay to a worker who was injured at work, we shouldn’t have to strike for something so basic, but we will, if they don’t see sense.” (Repairs worker).

Barnet Councils Local Authority Trading Company, The Barnet Group, won’t even give sick pay to a worker who was injured at work, we shouldn’t have to strike for something so basic, but we will, if they don’t see sense.

Barnet UNISON noted the intention of paying sick pay to all workers in repairs by giving them the opportunity to transition to a new contract 1st August. Barnet UNISON this intention had been signaled in talks with the trade unions since last Autumn. A colleague is currently off sick following an accident at work and despite there being light duties he could have done; he was sent home with no sick pay as per his contract.

Barnet UNISON the offer of a loan as a remedy but highlight the difficulty in low paid workers being able to pay back any loans. As we are so close to these colleagues being on the new contract, we were looking for a resolution which would put money into this worker’s account to relieve his difficulty. As a new starter this worker would have had access to sick pay. The treatment he has had does not recognise his dedication to his job, residents, and other colleagues. He worked throughout the pandemic.

Barnet UNISON discussed bringing his contract offer forward.

Barnet UNISON discussed the possibility of making a payment in any other way.

We failed to agree a way forward with Barnet Homes senior management.

Our Trades Dispute: Failure to agree adequate support of an employee during their sickness.

Barnet UNISON carried out their own consultative strike ballot.

Indicative Ballot result

Returned Ballot – 100%

Vote for strike action – 100%

Barnet UNISON has reiterated that we are still open for talks. We have agreed to a meeting on Wednesday 27 July 2022 where we hope commonsense will prevail to avoid strike action. However, because of the outcome of our consultative ballot we will be submitting our Industrial Action request to UNISON London region next week.

End.

Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk

Background: Barnet Council’s Company Refuse to Show Compassion for Injured Worker https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/13/barnet-councils-company-refuse-to-show-compassion-for-injured-worker/

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