Category: National
National Campaigns
Day 7: Barnet Strikers picket line
More BREAKING NEWS! Barnet UNISON Repairs Dispute
The Barnet Group has just announced in writing that they will not be using agency staff to cover work being done by the strikers. This contradicts what colleagues reported they were being told by their managers throughout the week and what we understood from the ACAS talks today.
The news is welcome and at least indicates The Barnet Group does not want to be seen to make the situation worse.
“We are pleased The Barnet Group has clarified this issue on agency staff. It would have been a travesty for The Barnet Group to be using agency staff to break a strike and would not have helped improve industrial relations.”
A fuller video statement will be released soon.
The Barnet Repairs strike begins Monday 17th October and is all out.
Daily picket lines 7.30-8.30am, Grahame Park Housing Office 17-19 The Concourse NW9 5XA
9-10am Leafleting outside Barnet Council Head Office 2, Bristol Avenue, NW9 4EW. Nearest tube is Colindale tube station.
Rush messages of support to:
Donations: xxxxx
End.
Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk
Background:
1. Breaking News: ACAS Talks Fail To Make The Barnet Group See Sense in Repairs Dispute
2. Breaking News: ACAS Talks Fail To Make The Barnet Group See Sense in Repairs Dispute
3. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).
4. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action
5. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers
6. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee
7. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.
8. 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/
Meet Patrick: Barnet UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary for The Barnet Group
Meet Patrick
This is Patrick doing what he always does speaking up for his members.
Patrick is a long-standing Barnet UNISON member and the Assistant Branch Secretary for our members working for the Barnet Group. Patrick works in social care as a mobile warden.
Anyone who has met Patrick will say that he cares passionately for all the members he represents and the services that they provide.
Last year Patrick represented our 70 pus care workers who were made redundant on 31 October following the decision by Barnet Council to close Apthorp care home. You can read more on this closure on our web site here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2021/09/28/8234/
It would be fair to say that this mass dismissal of care workers had a profound impact on Patrick who sat in with each one of them. Some of whom Patrick would have known for over 25 years.
More recently Patrick has been representing members working for Barnet Council Housing Repairs team who will shortly be starting strike action on Monday 17 October 2022.
You can read the details of the dispute on our web site here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers-100-vote-for-all-out-strike-action/
On Friday 30 September 2022, the employer The Barnet Group issued a statement cutting his facility time by 40%.
Patrick is committed to his members and will not let this stop him from trying to represent his members.
There are many people, not just Barnet UNISON members, but Barnet residents and the wider trade union movement who all respect Patrick for the work he does for his members.
Solidarity Patrick
End.
1. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC
2. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action
3. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers
4. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee
5. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.
6. 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/
3 simple actions supporters can do for our #BarnetStrikers
UNISON President Andrea Egan
Dear Supporter
If you are shocked at the treatment of our member who was injured at work and refused sick pay during the worst cost of living crisis in 75 years, then you can help our campaign
We have three requests
1. Sign this email statement.
Barnet Trades Council have set up an email which will be sent to the three key decision makers:
Barry Rawlings Leader of Barnet Council
John Hooton Chief Executive of Barnet Council
Tim Mulvenna Chief Executive The Barnet Group
Click on the link below and follow the instructions
https://forms.office.com/r/EdEZkAh7Cv
2. Visit our social media sites and leave messages of support
3. Send message of support to Barnet UNISON at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
For more information about the background to our dispute check our the following articles on our web site
Background:
1. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).
2. Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action
3. Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers
4. Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee
5. Barnet Council Repairs Operatives 100% turnout and 100% vote for strike action.
6. 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/
Support for Barnet Repairs strikers from Lambeth UNISON
Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).
Barnet UNISON is pleased to announce that strike notice for continuous strike action has been sent to the employer by UNISON today Friday 30 September 2022.
Our strike action commences on Monday 17 October 2022.
The IAC was informed that this is the first time UNISON has ever authorised continuous strike action for any UNISON dispute in the history of UNISON.
What this means is that when our members walk out on Monday 17 October 2022, they are staying out. This is not a rolling one, two, three days of strike action this is all out strike action.
This dispute involves UNISON members working for the Barnet Council Housing Repair service. The dispute has been ongoing for the last four months but despite the efforts of Barnet UNISON the employer seems intent on forcing a dispute.
“I am deeply humbled by the act of solidarity from all of the members of the National IAC. Our dispute is very simple it’s about solidarity for a work colleague who was injured at work. Members of IAC understood why we have asked for continuous action and I want to thank them on behalf of our members and reps for their support. Our campaign is already capturing widespread support from across the Labour movement. Everyone who reads about this dispute is equally shocked and appalled that an employer would seek to defend the indefensible. Our members are ready for this strike. The employer still has time to resolve this dispute the means to end it has been provided by Barnet UNISON it is all down to them now.”
John Burgess Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.
End.
Note to Editors: Contact details: Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: Helen.Davies@barnetunison.org.uk
Background:
Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action
Breaking News: Official Strike ballot begins for Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers
Barnet Responsive Repairs workers referred to UNISON’s Industrial Action Committee
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/
89% of Barnet UNISON members vote to Reject National Pay offer
Barnet UNISON members were recently balloted on the National Pay offer as part of UNISON’s national consultation on pay for Council and School support staff.
Barnet UNISON reps had taken the decision to recommend that our members should reject the offer.
The response from our members has been dramatic and reflects the grassroots organisational strength of Barnet UNISON.
The results confirm that our members did listen to their rep’s view on the National Pay offer and voted overwhelmingly to reject the offer.
Barnet UNISON delivered a 55% turnout of members voting across our members working for Barnet Council and Barnet Schools.
We are pleased to report the following turnouts across some sections of our membership:
- 92% of Waste & Recycling members voted
- 71% Street cleaning members voted
- 80% Highways members voted
- 70% Grounds Maintenance members voted
- 64% Passenger Transport members voted
- 78% Workshop members voted
- 68% Library members voted
- 67% of Adult Social care members voted
- 50% Commissioning members voted
- 50% of school staff members voted
- 67% BELS members voted
- 66% in Early Help Family Services voted
The message from Barnet UNISON members that they recognise the need for a National Pay Award which delivers a Pay Rise not a Pay Cut.
Barnet UNISON produced the largest number of REJECT votes of any UNISON branch in London.
Our results have been sent on to UNISON where all the votes across UNISON will be counted.
Please note Unite and GMB National Pay ballots are still live until into the middle of October.
Barnet UNISON will report back to our members once all three trade unions have decided what action needs to be taken.
In the meantime, Barnet UNISON is already in Pay & Grading negotiations which will have an impact on all our members working for the London Borough of Barnet. We will be providing updates on negotiations in due course.
Any questions or queries please leave a message on our voicemail on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
End.
Simple Guide on how to vote in the National Pay consultation
10 Reasons why Barnet UNISON is recommending to VOTE Reject in the National Pay consultation.
1. The Truth about the Tories Magic Money Tree: Reject the Pay cut
2. Barnet UNISON Depot workers say Enough Is Enough
3. Big Thanks to Martin Lewis for speaking truth to power about the escalating #EnergyBillsCrisis
4. Big thanks TUC highlighting some of impacts of the Cost Of Living Crisis
5. Big thanks to TUC for highlighting why Energy companies must be brought back under public ownership
6. Barnet UNISON Depot workers rejecting National Pay offer
7. “Why we must fight for a Pay rise and not a Pay cut.”
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/11/why-we-must-fight-for-a-pay-rise-and-not-a-pay-cut/
8. What Grade am I on?
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/26/what-grade-am-i-on/
9. Your Pay: The Tories Austerity Robbery
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/07/26/your-pay-the-tories-austerity-robbery/
10. Barnet UNISON National Pay Offer Grade table
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/04/barnet-unison-national-pay-offer-grade-table/
End.