Category: Your Choice Barnet

“No stone left unturned” Number 2: CEO The Barnet Group & Plumber with oncosts.

ASSIST, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, News, Pensions, Repairs, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

Barnet UNISON was approached by Barnet Council to correct the figures included in our article UPDATED : Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber” https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/10/18/barnet-council-the-tale-of-three-chief-executives-and-one-plumber/

According to information provide by Barnet Council, The Barnet Group (TBG) Chief Executive (CEO) salary is £202,511 with and additional £16,132 for pension which makes a total cost for this role £218, 643

According to information provided by Barnet Council, TBG Plumber salary is £36,029 with additional £12,308 on costs which makes a total cost for this role £48,337

What is concerning about this information is that it appears that the oncost for the CEO is lower as a percentage than the oncosts of the plumber.



UNISON Comment: 


Barnet UNISON has written to TBG asking for details of how they calculate oncosts for each post.


At a time when Barnet Council is in a serious financial crisis it is important that there is clear transparency and openness around spend.


Barnet UNISON will update this post once we have a response from TBG.


End.

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
“No stone left unturned” Number 1: Update of Barnet Council Agency Spend.
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Local, News, Pensions, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


After a delay by Barnet Council in publishing the figures online, Barnet UNISON is now able to see the latest Agency Spend up to 30 September 2024.


This data represents six months of agency spend.


First the good news.


As our members will know the last time we looked at the agency spend up to 31 August, Barnet Council had spent £11,950,348 million on agency workers. UNISON forecasted that if Barnet Council continued this rate of spend for the rest of the year the Council will have spent £28,680,836 million, which would be a record breaking spend when compared with the last 15 years of agency spend. The good news is that our forecast is down by £1,411,295 million which demonstrates that the brakes have been applied to agency spend.


The bad news is that even with this reduction the Council is still heading for a massive record breaking spend of £27,269,541 million which would be a record breaking spend when compared with the last 15 years of agency spend.




UNISON comment.


We are waiting. UNISON has been waiting for two and half months to be provided with a breakdown of agency worker spend across the Council workforce. 20 years ago UNISON used to be provided by Barnet Council with a breakdown of the staffing establishment including vacant posts and agency workers by directorate. It is concerning that we are approaching a timetable of potential redundancy consultations and UNISON still has no insight as to where there are vacancies and where agency workers are being deployed.


We understand that the report going to Cabinet Committee on Thursday 5 December 2024 will provide some insight as to where there will be possible redundancies. Once statutory redundancy consultation begins Barnet Council has a lawful duty to provide this staffing/agency information to UNISON.


End.


 


 


 


 


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
“No stone left unturned” What is The Barnet Group (TBG)? Number 7: Part Three
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Care & Support, COVID 19, H&S, Housing, Local, London Living Wage, News, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Ever since we published our article called Three Chief Executives and a Plumber, we have been inundated with questions about The Barnet Group (TBG).


Barnet UNISON published three animations which were put together with the help of our Barnet UNISON reps in TBG


Here is Animation Number Three which we noticed someone was watching it on a bus.




After watching this animation we strongly recommend you reading our article Three Chief Executives and a Plumber, here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/10/18/barnet-council-the-tale-of-three-chief-executives-and-one-plumber/


End.


 


 






 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
“No stone left unturned” What is The Barnet Group (TBG)? Number 6: Part Two
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, ASSIST, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Care & Support, COVID 19, Health and Safety, Local, London Living Wage, News, Pensions, Recruitment, Repairs, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Ever since we published our article called Three Chief Executives and a Plumber, we have been inundated with questions about The Barnet Group (TBG).


Barnet UNISON published three animations which were put together with the help of our Barnet UNISON reps in TBG


Here is Animation Number Two which appears to have been screened in London Docklands.




After watching this animation we strongly recommend you reading our article Three Chief Executives and a Plumber, here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/10/18/barnet-council-the-tale-of-three-chief-executives-and-one-plumber/


End.



			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Barnet Council Agency Spend – Update more to follow
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Local, News, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			
Below is the graph showing agency spend since 2010.


Last year Barnet Council spent £20 million.


In September 2024, staff were informed that there was a £20million deficit for this years budget.


At the end of August 2024, Barnet Council had already spent £11,950,348.29 on Agency workers.


In the meantime Barnet UNISON is trequestioing a breakdown of the use of agency/consultants across each directorate. We want to see what vacant posts are being covered by agency workers.


Since then Barnet Council has put in control measures for agency spend.




We are now waiting for the latest update on Barnet Council Agency spend for September………….


 




End.


 


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Apology: UPDATED: Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, News, Report, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Dear Barnet UNISON Members


Following some complaints about some pay inaccuracies in our post entitled:


“UPDATED: Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber””


UNISON has updated the salary information.


To view updated article, click on link to our website here.


https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/10/18/barnet-council-the-tale-of-three-chief-executives-and-one-plumber/


At the same time, we have been informed that we will be given complete set of information about all four posts above including what is referred to a ‘oncosts’ for each role to ensure fairness and transparency.


Once we have this information we will update the articlle again.


Following the complaint, we had chance to think about our attempts for transparency and openness about spend particularly since the Council announced a serious financial crisis and the need to find £20million in savings in this financial year.


The Localism Act 2011 – Openness and accountability in local pay 1.1. Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to publish an annual pay policy statement.


The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 issued in February 2015 by the then Department for Communities and Local Government; and specific guidance relevant to the Localism Act issued by the Department in February 2012 and February 2013.


To comply with the above legislation Barnet Council, publish their Pay Policy document each year which shows the pay for all posts above £58k.


Barnet UNISON has reflected on this and has subsequently requested for the same transparency to be applied to TBG and BELS whereby each year the salaries that meet the criteria set out in the legislation above are published either by TBG and BELS or they are published alongside Barnet Council Annual Pay Policy each year.


Barnet UNISONs preference would be the reports would be submitted together to ensure that there is full transparency over Council spending on staff.


We are awaiting a response and will update members accordingly. 


End.

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Barnet Council and The Barnet Group cut tea and coffee to staff
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Local, News, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


Barnet Council announced last week that they would be ending tea and coffee for their staff in the workplace. The Barnet Group a local authority trading company 100% owned by Barnet Council has made the same statement to their staff.


 


“Things must be bad to if the employer believes that this cut will help address the financial crisis facing Barnet Council. How much is this really going to save? This message is not going down well with staff across both employers. Our members are more interested in whether the Council has a grip on millions they keep handing over to Agencies and Consultants (£20 million last year) or the millions given to Capita (£24 million) last year. The Council need to rethink this decision.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON. 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Social Care and Repair Workers 87% Vote Yes to Action on Pay
		
		
 
	
		Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Health and Safety, Local, News, Recruitment, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			


“If the those at the top can’t pay up then one of them should go so we do have money. We don’t need so many big Daddies.”


Anju, The Barnet Group UNISON rep


On a turnout of 70%, 98% agreed with Barnet UNISON’s pay claim and 87% said they were willing to take strike action in favour of the pay claim. The overwhelming majority of these are care and support workers.


Workers in The Barnet Group who are affected by the London Living Wage, having no enhanced rates of pay for working nights, bank holidays or overtime rates were surveyed in an indicative ballot for strength of feeling over these issues. Barnet UNISON’s pay claim was put to them.


Shockingly the lowest paid in The Barnet Group were given no pay rise for the whole of 2023! Paying the new rate of the London Living Wage 6 months after the new rate was announced with no backdate does not help the lowest paid.


The pay claim is: 


    

  1. Backdate the London Living Wage increase to £13.15 to the 1/11/23 and maintain differentials between other grades in YCB.
    2. 

  2. Pay Overtime Rates of time and a half Monday to Saturday and double time Sundays and Bank Holidays.
    3. 

  3. Pay enhanced rates of 25% Saturday 6am to 10pm; 50% Sunday all day; 100% Bank holiday (25% = time and a quarter; 50% = time and a half; 100% = double time)
    4. 

  4. Pay an increased Rate of time and a third for night working (10pm-6am).
    5. 



Barnet UNISON hopes that the results of the survey will lead to productive talks where consideration will be given to the demands. If no such consideration will be given we will progress to a formal ballot of these members with a view to taking strike action.


On hearing the results this is what some of our reps had to say:


“It’s a good result for us. Actions speak louder than words. We work so hard, we deserve it. We get no thank you’s.”


Tracy, The Barnet Group UNISON rep.


 “It’s time to act. It’s a call from the trenches.”


Pauline, The Barnet Group UNISON rep


“The COVID heroes have spoken. The Barnet Group needs to listen.”


Patrick Hunter, Assistant Branch Secretary for Barnet UNISON


“Most of these workers are skilled workers and yet they have rates of pay which are lower than for unskilled work. Is it because they are women? Is it because they are predominantly Black? If Equalities actually mean something, then this needs to be sorted.”


Helen Davies, Chair of Barnet UNISON.


 


End.


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
Bringing Services Home – Barnet UNISON campaign
		
		
 
	
		Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Care & Support, Community, COVID 19, Health and Safety, Local, London Living Wage, News, Pensions, Recruitment, Repairs, Report, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			
 




Barnet UNISON is proud to announce that we are promoting UNISON Bringing Services Home campaign.


As a branch we have had more than our share of outsourcing. The easy Council experiment was a spectacular failure. It cost more money (yes, we told them it would!) and it did not lead to better services.


In May 2022, Barnet Labour Party won the election with a massive majority and one of their priorities was “Review of contracted out services, in the context of the new administration’s aspiration to bring privatised services back in-house.”


Last year Barnet Labour Party brought back one of the big contracts with Capita and other services on the other Capita contract have been coming back in-house.


The Council is going through a period of healing from the badly advised outsourcing ideology which dominated our Council for over a decade.


Today Barnet UNISON has written to all senior council officers responsible for outsourced contracts seeking a meeting to discuss how and when they are going to review the outsourced service.


Barnet UNISON also want to deal with the Ethnicity Pay Gap which the outsourcing easy Council ideology promoted by always securing the outsourcing option for services which are largely provided by Black workers e.g.


    

  1. NSL: Parking Services
    2. 

  2. ISS: Catering Services
    3. 

  3. Your Choice Barnet: Social Care services
    4. 

  4. Norse: Cleaning services
    5. 

  5. Blue 9: Security Services.
    6. 



All the above services were outsourced under the Tories.


Barnet UNISON positively supports the statement of UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:


“Black workers make a vital contribution to the health and care sector but are all too often at the bottom of the pay scale as care workers, porters, healthcare assistants and catering staff. They frequently face shocking discrimination, threatening their health, job security and life chances.”


This why Barnet UNISON is determined to work with the Labour Administration to bring back these services into the Council thus enabling real life meaningful changes for a workforce that is often invisible and often low paid and without occupational sick pay.


End.


 

			

		

		
		


	
		
	

		
		
London Living Wage Week: Barnet UNISON message to employers is “Pay Up Now!”
		
		
 
	
		Barnet Group, Care & Support, Local, London Living Wage, Your Choice Barnet	



	
		

			
		
					

			
London Living Wage Week: Barnet UNISON message to employers is:


 “Pay Up Now!”


 




This week is London Living Wage for more details of the campaign please go to  https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week


 


 


As soon as Barnet UNISON heard the new rate had changed from £11.95 to £13.15 an hour we contacted the Leader of Barnet Council, Chief Executive of Barnet Council and Chief Executive of The Barnet Group to ask what they are doing to ensure that all contractors adopt the new pay rate.


Last week we heard that the Chief Executive of The Barnet Group has sent a message to staff stating:

“We have made a commitment to pay the London living wage if we can afford to, to comply with the Living Wage Foundation accreditation it needs to be implemented by 1st May 2024.”


We already know from a survey of our members that pay is the one biggest issues. We are in the worst Cost Of Living Crisis in 76 years, things are not getting better, they are getting worse.


Barnet UNISON will shortly be conducting a mass consultation pay ballot with our members which will ask two questions.


1. Do you think you should wait until 1 May 2024, or should you be given the new pay rate now?


2. If you want the pay now and management refuse to pay, are you prepared to take strike action? Yes or No?


The choice of what we do next will be from our members. We are a branch that does support its members as we saw last year with the Barnet Ten strikes and now, we have social workers on strike about pay.


Whatever happens, you the members will decide what we do next.


We will be organising meetings in workplaces and a big online meeting to discuss this issue.


If you want to book a meeting on pay or would like more information about the mass consultation pay ballot email us at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk


 


 


 

			

		

		
		


	

			  

					
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