Last night we had some great speakers all very different.

Local

Shirley Franklin – Inspirational.

Shirley told the story of the Save the Whittington Hospital Coalition. Against the odds they began a campaign in the community which grew and grew. 17,000 signatures on a petition to save the A&E. Now that is a challenge.

But signing a petition is not what helped win. By taking the petition into the community they had to speak to residents, so when they needed the support of residents for the march. The residents were already ready and willing to support. As she said residents can’t help if they don’t know what is going on!

John Lister – Powerful

I have heard John speak on the NHS before and he has lost none of his fire and enthusiasm for the battle to defend the NHS. John spoke about the dangers of the White Paper which could see the end of the NHS by 2013 if communities don’t rise up to oppose these attacks. He exposed the waste of public money, the lack of accountability in the White Paper proposals.

Nick Grant – Fightback

Nick got straight to the point that everyone understands. Public Sector workers are under attack, we have to stand up to defend ourselves. Trade Unions need to build alliances with staff and residents. It is not just staff who will face the pain of these attacks, it is everyone using public services. The Academies is a classic example of what this government is trying to do. Academies are seeking to break up state education and despite claims to the contrary, this policy will see the return of the ‘have and have nots!”

Ken Loach – A vision!

Ken reminded the meeting about how the country collectively responded after the Second World War. The country was bankrupt with debts far higher than we face now. Back then we owned Gas, Water, Electricity, Coal, Steel, Transport (Railway, Buses). Yet in spite of the financial crisis, the government created the 8th Wonder of the World otherwise known as the NHS. What an achievement. What vision.

Ken made it clear this was defining point in our history. The Government were embarking on a clear strategy to demolish public services and it is our duty to respond.

Their vision for public services is not our vision.

Our vision is of the community coming together with the Trade Unions to protect public services. Our vision is one where we the community ‘are in it together.’

What next?

First task of the alliance planning meeting next week is to organise a public march across the borough.

If you want to help out, the meeting is being held here

 

Barnet Public meeting a “massive success”

Local

Over 200 staff and residents came down to the public meeting.

This evening marked the begining of the Barnet Alliance for Public Services. It is an Alliance between trade union and the residents.

We heard four excellent speakers talk about the serious attacks staff and residents will be soon facing.

The mood of the meeting was overwhelmingly defiant and eager to take on the challenge.

The First Alliance meeting is next

Wednesday 29 September in South Friern Library at 6 pm.

More details on the evening will be posted later.

Future Shape Programme – Audit expose

Uncategorised

Tuesday 21 September – Audit Committee report

Item 9 One Barnet: Review of Governance Arrangements

You can view the report online here

 

The First Recommendation reveals the Council

  • Does not have a business case for the One Barnet Programme.
  • Does not have any evidence of planned benefits or planned outcomes of the programme
  • Does not have an estimated cost of the programme
  • Does not have an overview of the overall timescales of the programme including key milestones
  • Does not have a high level risk profile 

The Future Shape Programme is over two years old we spent over £2.5 million to consultants in the first two phases and now we are looking to invest more money for another bunch of consultants.

 

In these times of Austerity we must stop handing over public money to consultants who do not deliver. If Consultants are not prepared to forego a large part of their fee on the understanding that it will only be paid if their recommendations deliver value for money to the Council; then we shouldn’t employ them.

 

I am tired/frustrated reading reports from consultants waxing lyrical about different models of delivery with little or no evidence to substantiate their claims. Furthermore I know they will be long gone when the organisation finds out it has been sold a pup!

 

Who pays…..?

It is the tax payer. Public services are funded by taxes we all pay and that included public sector workers.

After all, in Barnet we are all familiar with local examples of privatisation successes failures: Icelandic Banks, Connaught, Catalyst, Aerodrome Road, Meals at Home, Cleaning……

 

More to follow….

How can the Future Shape Programme where the stakes are so high not have all the recommendations set out in the Audit report in place before any decisions are made about the future of council services?

Connaught workers – Out- in- Out- In!

Uncategorised

Last week Connaught workers were sacked by a conference call. This was as a result of news last week that Connaught plc and its subsidiary, Connaught Partnerships Limited, which comprises its Social Housing Division were going into administration.

On Tuesday 14 September staff attended a meeting with Barnet Homes and Lovells partnerships a subsidiary of Morgan Sindall. The good news was that they did have a job and all their terms and conditions would be transferred over. They were told that they had been sent redundancy notices in error.

·         Members left the meeting happy they had a job.

6pm last night Connaught members at the lobby saw an email from KPMG saying that they had not been transferred and they were redundant.

You can imagine how much distress this caused our members. Emails, phone calls were made last night to find out what was going on.

Late. late last night I emailed KPMG demanding to know what is going on.

This morning I spoke to KPMG. They explained that they had not been informed that Barnet Connaught staff were to be transferred to Lovells Partnership hence the redundancy notices were sent.

I asked KPMG if they receive official notification from Lovells Partnership that Barnet staff were to be TUPE transferred, would they rescind the redundancy notice and support the TUPE transfer?

They said yes.

I have now been in direct contact with Barnet Homes and Lovell Partnerships and they have already sent information to KPMG.

I understand that Lovells Partnership are in the process of sending a communication to staff informing them they are being TUPE transferred and they are going to be paid.

I expect our members will still not believe the news until they have something in writing, but who could blame them after the week they have had!

I am sure all Barnet UNISON members (not Connaught workers) are probably shaking their heads in disbelief and will want me to pass on their best wishes to the Connaught workers.

1 … 197 198 199 200 201 … 232