“I want to send a message of solidarity and support to Barnet UNISON members, and the many community campaigns who have been fighting Barnet Council as it carries out its relentless ideological war against public services,the disabled and their own staff. I cant be with you with you on your protest on Tuesday 24 May, keep fighting your all are an inspiration” John McDonnell MP Shadow Chancellor
Open + /Unstaffed Libraries – It’s Different in Denmark
Barnet Council propose to cut library posts by 46%, alongside a 70% reduction of staffed hours at libraries. This is to be facilitated by Open+ technology which will allow some members of the public access to libraries when staff are not present. The Council claim this has a precedent in Scandinavia, particularly Denmark. » Read more
Dear member
If you have recently received a letter from Capita Pay Roll about having to make up Pension contributions due to having taken strike action please note the following:
HR has confirmed to UNISON this was sent out in error.
HR will be sending out a letter confirming this is the case.
You do not have to respond to the letter or the deadline.
If you have any concerns please contact the branch at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk or telephone 0208 359 2088
“Binge reading & Under-age reading!”
Word is out amongst our members working in Libraries that the current fantasy library proposals could rapidly lead to potentially serious medical conditions for Barnet Library users which could add further pressure on our local NHS services and an increase in crime.
“Binge reading” – health risks
Staffless Libraries will mean limited access to Barnet Libraries for children under 16 and people with disabilities. Our library workers believe this will inevitably lead to an outbreak of “binge reading”.
“It’s just an awful condition which leaves the customer badly in need of a regular fix of more and more books. They get really desperate and just any book will do. It’s sad to see, they don’t care, it could be fiction, non-fiction, or even magazines. I knew one customer who only read hardbacks, but once he began binge reading he was taking anything he could get his hands on. I just don’t think our Council realises the risks it’s taking with their Library proposals” (Anonymous Barnet Library worker)
Under-age reading & crime
Barnet Library staff have reported their concern that as a result of restricted access for children under 16 to their local Library, there could be an increase of underage reading. One worker who wanted to remain anonymous said:
“It’s sad really, that the council has promoted a policy which could lead to underage reading. It leaves children at risk of exploitation. The idea that book pushers could populate the streets of Barnet is frightening. We know book pushers will not supply quality books, quite often it is cheap, poor quality books. But the books they push are addictive. I worry for young people, they should have access to high quality books available in a safe environment.”
John Burgess UNISON Branch secretary said:
“We have repeatedly warned the Council of the serious health and anti-social behaviour risks that could quickly sweep across our local communities. I believe there are well researched reports detailing the impact of binge reading on health outcomes which inevitably bring unwelcome pressure on an already overloaded NHS. The Council also refuses to accept the risk of increased crime as a result of under-age reading. The prospect of book pushers on the streets of Barnet fills me with dread. That is why I would encourage library lovers wherever you are to view this excellent Save Barnet Libraries Animation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3XfibjbJuA and Sign our Save Barnet Libraries Petition here
My hero in 2015? The man with the plan to beat the cuts.
Please see link above to this article in the Guardian on Tuesday 22 December 2015, about our branch secretary, John Burgess. It is almost unheard of for a branch secretary to get this kind of coverage in a national newspaper and is a testimony to the work John has done over the years and to the work of many of our branch members and activists. There are more John Burgess’s and there is an urgent need to bring people together to fight for a better union on the national stage so that our chances of success in the battles to come are greatly improved.
Helen Davies, Branch Chair Barnet UNISON
For the past 18 months Barnet Council has prepared plans for the future of School Meals and Education & Skills.
From the outset the fate of approx 430 workers was always going to be outsourcing. However as per previous practice the outsourcing pantomime was played out in a number of committee reports to the Children’s, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee (CELS).
Barnet UNISON responded at each stage.
1. In September 2014 we produced “Commercialising Education and Skills Future Delivery of Services to Schools London Borough of Barnet” click here
2. In January 2015 we produced “Education & Skills and Catering Analysis of Options Appraisal” click here
3. In June 2015 we produced “Education & Skills and Catering, Threat of large-scale subcontracting”click here
4. Later in June 2015 when we heard Capita had pulled out of contract talks we produced “Education & Skills and Catering UPDATE 30 June 2015” click here
5. Finally in November 2015 we produced Catering Services “Jewel in the Crown”, Privatisation of Education & Skills and Catering in Barnet click here
There is a significant lack of transparency over the award of this contract exacerbated by the lack of financial details made publicly available and the fact there was only one bidder as the two other bidders had withdrawn from the bidding process. Furthermore the Council is handing over the Schools Meals Service to a private contractor without any competition. Under this arrangement the Council will now have to share the profit with the contractors at a time when they are proposing cuts to frontline services.
UNISON in our final report have made the following recommendations
1. The Council should retain the Catering Service in-house and place it within Family Services Delivery Unit in order that all the profits can support frontline services, which are threatened by budget cuts. It should draw up a Public Service Innovation and Improvement Plan for the future of the Catering Service jointly with schools and staff.
2. Elected members should require a detailed breakdown of the £1.5m cost of the Education and Skills outsourcing, in particular the £250,000 expenditure on ‘commercial advisers’ cited in the Full Business Case (p35).
In early September this year UNISON requested information on how many workers in both Adults’ and Children’s Services have left social services and how many have joined since December 2014. We know that during the year from April 2014 to March 2015 53 qualified locum agency social workers for Adult Social Care and a further 50 for Children’s Social Care, were employed by London Borough of Barnet. However, we think this number may now be higher.
We believe the total number of social worker posts is some 115 for Adults Services and 200 for Children’s Services. This number also says nothing about the problems of recruiting and retaining occupational therapists, who are critical in terms of identifying aids, adaptations and techniques for people with physical disabilities to enable them to live as independently as possible.
We are seeing large numbers of colleagues leaving for a variety of reasons. In fact almost no one with a senior leadership position in children’s social work three years ago is still here today.
Once upon a time – and not so long ago – the one thing Barnet Social Services had going for it both in Children’s and Adults’ Services was a fairly stable workforce. This meant that, despite all of the changes, experienced staff stayed and were able to ensure continuity with vulnerable people and their families as well as services linked to those people and families.
For a London setting this was refreshing and rare. The worry is that we now have the same difficulties as other London authorities. This is borne out by the fact that the latest figures shared with UNISON show that we have 20% vacancy rates across the two services – now comparable to other London authorities.
This is bad enough, but demand for those services is rising at the same time as the colleagues doing that work are leaving. UNISON has raised the social work crisis to the attention of the senior council officers.
We are clear that this crisis is one of the unintended consequences of pursuing mass outsourcing ideology, our members are telling us why they are planning to leave and it is all about growing employment insecurity. It is one thing to promote Commissioning Council as a solution to the financial crisis; it is irresponsible to pursue a policy that is pushing the future of social services in Barnet over a cliff.
UNISON is very concerned staff and the community are being exposed to risks which do not need to be there. These services mean people live, die or thrive. Our members work hard to make sure people thrive. Many now live with a constant fear that what they are doing is not enough and there will be a serious incident. It is the nightmare of any worker in Social Services.
UNISON is extremely concerned about the effect on morale and safety for our members and the community. One thing is clear: we will not stand by and allow our members to be scapegoated for systemic failings. Another is that we will continue to fight outsourcing and all the risks it brings to our members and community!
“We leave no members behind”
This is a commitment I am finding myself increasingly saying in meetings with members who work for a number of different employers. Whether it is our council housing repairs workers who work for Mears or members working for Capita, NSL, Barnet Council, Barnet Homes, Your Choice Barnet, Barnet College, we are all facing attacks both in the workplace but at home and in our communities as a direct result of austerity.
Austerity is responsible for our terms and conditions being attacked and that there have been no pay awards to address the increasing cost of living.
Austerity has made housing a major issue not just for our members in terms of cost but for our children who cannot afford to leave home.
What is clear, is that we cannot fight for each struggle alone, we need to support each other.
This Saturday 12 September we have organised Kids4Libraries march. The main march begins outside Church End Library and it is going to be big and it is going to be fun.
However, more importantly it is about all Barnet UNISON members pulling together and in this case in support and solidarity for Library workers.
One of the proposals is to reduce staff by 65%!
I do not think it is right that we leave Library workers behind to fight this alone.
This is why our branch is calling on all of our members to spare a few hours this Saturday to come down and show solidarity for our fellow UNISON members.
Venue: Church End Library (5 minutes from Finchley Central Tube station).
Time: Assemble from 11 am.
See you there
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON
Barnet UNISON Press Release: 2 September 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Support #Kids4Libraries march 12 September
On September 21st the Council will vote whether to accept one of three options for the future of Barnet Libraries. This will be an important decision for Barnet as libraries promote literacy and learning for all, provide access to information and enable people to engage as citizens in their local and wider communities. But this vital contribution is threatened as the Council’s proposals appear to have been designed not to safeguard our libraries but to wreck them.
The Council’s proposals include;
• Library staffing budget to be cut by up to 68%. It likely that even staffed libraries will not have enough workers available to maintain a sufficient level of service.
• Two or six Libraries to close
• Most remaining Libraries to be reduced in size. They could no longer house adequate book collections, or a sufficient number of computers for the public to use. There will not be enough study space to meet the needs of students.
• Libraries will be privatised or run by a “Mutual”. There will be no guarantee they will be run for public good and not for profit.
• Libraries will be unstaffed for two thirds of their opening times. Library users will have to rely on self-service machines and volunteers (if any can be found) for help. As a result of not having staff on site, children will be denied entry to the libraries for most of the day.
Adoption of any of the current options will be an act of vandalism, resulting in Barnet Libraries no longer being an inclusive, efficient and loved public service, as the accessibility and quality of the service will suffer.
This destructive plan has seen the emergence of a Save Barnet Libraries campaign which is made up of Barnet UNISON, residents and Library users.
Our next action is the Kids4Libraries march on the 12th September. More details can be found here
UNISON Branch Secretary John Burgess said: The current proposals would in effect have meant the end of a comprehensive public library service for the residents of Barnet. It is impossible to view these disgraceful proposals in isolation from what is going on across Council services across the UK. Councils have had their government funding cut by 40% since 2010, which is a deliberate attack on local democracy and public services. Our march is attempting to raise awareness within our community and wider afield of what is at stake. Our message to the Council is think again, Libraries are beacons within our communities which must be allowed to flourish.
“Notes to Editors.
Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or 0208 359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk
Background:
Barnet UNISON launch Thunderclap in support of 12 September march.
https://www.thunderclap.it/my/stats/30839-join-ourkids4libraries-march
Kids4Libraires march video
https://youtu.be/gb6R7M-0Kgo
“Inappropriate, over the top, dire, painful, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, restrictive and unimaginative”
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1625
Barnet Council – Why is this happening to us?
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/?q=node/1627
Local authorities ‘cannot cope with further cuts’
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/sep/01/local-government-association-cannot-cope-further-cuts
