Barnet UNISON

“We have learnt on the eve of the strike that the government is making it clear that all public sector workers will have to endure a further four years of pay cuts. Our members have had to take a 20% cut in pay on the back of the ongoing ‘cost of living’ crisis. Our members cannot afford to take a further cut of up to 20%. Pay cuts won’t pay the rent or the mortgage, pay cuts don’t pay the food bill, pay cuts don’t pay the heating and water bills. When the Council asks for the council tax bills will they accept no payment for the next four years?

 

The coming strike on Thursday, is part of a national campaign which is as much about fair funding for local government as it is about fair pay for local government workers. The future for local government funding is perched at the edge of a financial precipice. It is important for staff, residents, services users, parents & carers to take the opportunity on Thursday 10 July to make their voice heard loud and clear for fair funding for locally delivered public services.”

John Burgess UNISON Branch Secretary

On the eve of what could see up to a million public sector workers take strike action the Conservative Party have made two key announcements, which signal their intention toward public sector workers.

Four more years of pay cuts

“Tory minister Matt Hancock warns of four more years of pay restraint.” Read here

Ban strikes in public sector

“The Conservatives will draw up new laws to curb the rights of public sector unions to take industrial action…” Read here

MPs’ 11% pay

“The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) wants to raise salaries by £7,600 to £74,000 in 2015.” Read here

3 July 2014

Dear UNISON Member

NJC Pay Dispute 2014 – UNISON’s response to the employer scaremongering.

This briefing outlines UNISON’s response to the letters or briefings that you will doubtless be receiving from your council’s Chief Executive or Leader in response to our notice of strike action in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 10 July.

Your employer is entitled to communicate with you about the strike – but they may try to convince you to come into work on 10^th July and not take part in what is a day of lawful industrial action across England Wales and Northern Ireland. Don’t let them put the frighteners on you.

All local authorities have been encouraged to apply pressure on you not to take part by the Local Government Association – the body that has:

 

• made the insulting 1% pay offer
• overseen a 20% reduction in the real value of your pay since 2010
• published a guide for your council on how to rip up your terms and conditions
• …and refused further talks on a fair pay settlement or even to go to ACAS for arbitration – they think you’re not worth going to ACAS for

 

The employer’s offer: The employers have offered just 1% to 90% of the workforce on NJC scale point 11 and above. Those on scale points 5 – 10 have been offered just enough to keep them barely above the National Minimum Wage – the lowest possible legal pay rate. That’s how little the workforce is valued. It’s a scandal.

To view full rebuttal click here

Details of Barnet UNISON picket lines here

North London Business Park (NLBP) Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP from 7 am here

Barnet House, 1255 High Road, Whetstone N20 0EJ from 7.30 am here

Mill Hill Depot Bittacy Hill, London NW7 1BL from 5 am here

Chipping Barnet Library, 3 Stapylton Road, Barnet, EN5 4QT from 8.15am here

North Finchley Library Ravensdale Avenue, North Finchley, N12 9HP from 8.45 am here

 

“March & Rally”

Join the march in central London on Thursday 10 July: Assemble from 11.30 AM outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place, W1 (nearest Tube: Oxford Circus) to march from approximately 12 noon

to a rally at Trafalgar Square, WC2.

 

National Strike On

 

Thursday 10 July

What is happening in Barnet on 10 July?

Over the next few days meetings will take place with UNISON reps and other trade unions in order to agree where the picket lines will be on Thursday 10 July.

Further Information will be going out to all of our members at the end of this week.

If you have any question about the strike please contact the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Will other Trade Unions be taking part?

We understand that GMB, Unite, PCS, FBU, NUT could all be taking strike action on the same day

Myth

Public service workers have been cushioned from the recession

The facts:

The real value of local government workers’ wages has fallen by 18% since 2010.

Pay rises have been below inflation in eight of the last 17 years.

Many have seen terms and conditions cut at local level.

Frozen pay doesn’t just affect you today – it will cut the value of your pension too.

 

Pay in the public sector has fallen by 18% since the Politics of Austerity kicked in from 2010. On Saturday 21 June 50,000 people marched against ‘Austerity’ in London yet the media did not cover it. Make sure your voice is heard by taking part on 10 July