Category: Your Choice Barnet

Breaking News: ACAS Talks Fail To Make The Barnet Group See Sense in Repairs Dispute

Anti - Racism, ASSIST, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Care & Support, COVID 19, Health and Safety, Housing, Local, News, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

UNISON has suggested several ways this dispute can be resolved during the ACAS talks. None of the proposals were accepted by The Barnet Group. The only offer The Barnet Group made was to offer to increase the injured colleague’s debt.

The Barnet Group prefers seeing incensed colleagues take unprecedented all out industrial action; try to break the strike through bullying, intimidation and hiring expensive agency staff; and not repairing people’s homes because they want to stick to a principle.

That principle is not paying a worker injured at work sick pay when he was 3 weeks away from signing a contract which would give him sick pay. Our demand all along was for the injured worker to have that pay reinstated in some shape or form. Nothing more nothing less.

His colleagues and UNISON prefer to show solidarity and in these hard times we prefer to stand by a colleague so that he receives sick pay. As one colleague said: “That could have happened to any one of us”.

We have approached the new Labour Council to do something. After all Barnet Council owns The Barnet Group 100%. We hope they will intervene and insist The Barnet Group does the right thing by this worker, his colleagues and Barnet Council tenants.

“These workers were applauded as heroes throughout the pandemic. They stuck together for Barnet residents. Now they need our help as they stand shoulder to shoulder with a colleague injured at work who then received no sick pay. Every day we are impressed that these workers are so determined to fight for what is right. It is an absolute travesty that The Barnet Group thinks the principle of not paying sick pay is worth defending. Today, at ACAS we heard of instances where The Barnet Group has taken a compassionate response to sick workers and has paid more than a worker was contracted to receive. Why would they not do so here? What message does this send to the wider workforce and residents?” (Helen Davies, Branch Chair Barnet UNISON).

An injury to one, in this case, is indeed an injury to all!

 

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 2, Bristol Avenue, NW9 4EW. Nearest tube Colindale tube station.

Rush messages of support to:

contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Donations to the Barnet UNISON Industrial Action Fund Account Email the branch for details contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

End.

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

Background:

1. Breaking News: Barnet UNISON obtain ground-breaking support from UNISONs National Industrial Action Committee (IAC).

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/30/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

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/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

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

4. 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/

5. 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/

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/

 

 

 

Meet Patrick: Barnet UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary for The Barnet Group

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, COVID 19, Health and Safety, Housing, Local, National, News, Pensions, Repairs, Solidarity, TBG Flex, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

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

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/30/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

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/09/20/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

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

4. 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/

5. 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/

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/

Barnet Council Housing Repairs workers 100 % vote for all out strike action

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Health and Safety, Repairs, Report, Solidarity, TBG Flex, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign, Your Choice Barnet

20 September 2022.

What is this dispute about?

In one word it’s quite simple…………“Solidarity”

One of our members a Barnet Council Housing Repairs worker was injured at work.

His employer Barnet Homes, an organisation 100% owned by Barnet Council refused to provide sick pay.

Barnet UNISON tried to persuade the employer to reconsider but the employer refuses to change their position.

Our members were upset at the treatment of their fellow worker and in solidarity demanded to be balloted. All of our manual workers were clear that it was a matter of principle. Any of them could be injured at work. They understand the terror of trying to survive in the worst cost of living crisis in 75 years on low pay. They don’t understand why their employer is deliberately taking an aggressive attack on their work colleague. All of these workers worked throughout Covid and at one time were clapped as key workers.

The other back story is that our member who was injured is a Kosovo refugee. Very few people will understand what he has endured in his journey from Kosovo to London.

All we are asking is for the employer to pay his sick pay for the time period he was denied pay.

There have been many attempts by Barnet UNISON to reach out to Barnet Homes to try to avoid this dispute. Barnet UNISON had negotiated a new contract for these workers, with sick pay. To try to avert this dispute Barnet UNISON asked Barnet Homes to bring the contract forward by 3 weeks to cover our member when he was injured. This proposal was rejected.

We cannot understand why Barnet Homes prefers to engage in a battle about an amount of money which is almost insignificant to Barnet Homes but means all the world to this one member of staff. Our members would much rather be working for Barnet residents and providing a vital service, but the work they do cannot be at the expense of one of their colleagues being mistreated.

Barnet UNISON has approached Barnet Council and Barnet Labour Party on several occasions over the past four months to try to resolve this dispute.

The results of our strike ballot are as follows:

  • 100% turnout
  • 100% vote for strike action.

Our members have voted for all-out strike action. This means they are going out and staying out. This is not a 3 day strike then back to work.

Our members are angry and determined.

“Dear Helen and Branch members

Congratulations! What a fantastic result and fantastic show of solidarity to your comrade. ‘Workers united we will not be defeated’

I send a message of solidarity to your branch and members who have decided that they will not leave anyone behind, the strongest and greatest position any workforce can show!!

When you have the dates let me know and I will make every effort to attend your picket line.” (Andrea Egan UNISON President)

Details of when the strike action will start will be published in due course.

End.

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

Background:

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

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2022/08/25/breaking-news-official-strike-ballot-begins-for-barnet-council-housing-repairs-workers/

  1. 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/

  1. 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/

4. 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/

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/

 

 

 

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