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6 December 2016

 

“Barnet UNISON oppose the Council plans for Libraries.

The Council may not plan to close any libraries in the short or mid-term but what is being proposed will reduce their quality, accessibility and  safety and to closures in the long term,

The Council are proposing to cut the staffing budget by 46%.

This means that around 30 library workers are now learning they will lose their jobs. These are men and women who have given years and sometimes decades of service to the people of Barnet.

This is poor reward to a workforce who have consistently achieved percentage scores in the high 90’s for good public satisfaction.

Such a cull of the library workers means that libraries will only be staffed for 30% of the opening times at the most.  The Council claiming that self-service machines and to a less extent volunteer are adequate replacements.

 

The Council are relying on technology to control access to libraries.

People will swipe their library cards through an automatic gate to gain access during these times.

But under 15 years olds unaccompanied by an adult won’t be able to do this. So young people access to our libraries are being severely curtailed.

 

Leaving libraries unstaffed will put those using them at risk.

Monitored CCTV with a response time of thirty minutes is not a sufficient replacement for having staff on site who can prevent incidents escalating and who can respond immediately to emergencies.

 

But not only are human assets of the libraries being lost, the physical space is too.

Barnet libraries are to lose between 15 to 90% of their space.  This means fewer items to borrow. Less space for computers and less space to host events such as story times or author events.

 

The people of Mill Hill, East Barnet, South Friern and Childs Hill will not even have the limited access library service available in the rest of the borough. Their libraries are to be handed over to voluntary groups, who will only be obliged to open for 15 hours a week.

 

The Council justify the wrecking of Barnet Library Service by a claimed need to save money.  The intention being to reduce the library budget by 1.6 million pounds by 2019/20.

 

Yet the Council originally allocated over 6 and a half million pounds to restructure the library service. Recently we have learned that over 14 million pounds are to be spent on library procurements in the next financial year. This is a lot of money to be spent on reducing the assets, efficiency, accessibility and safety of a service.

 

These changes will lead to a decline in use.

 

Why would you use a library that won’t have the books you want, where no help will be available, not enough computers available, where there will be no room to sit and study and where you will feel unsafe?

 

Barnet UNISON hope that this decline will not be used as an excuse by the present administration to close libraries a few years from now.

Instead we ask that the Council withdraw the plans for restructure and to engage in real consultation with library staff at all levels, and the people of Barnet on how to provide a Library service fit for the 21st Century.”

 

 

 

Dear Barnet UNISON members

As we are nearing the completion of Job Evaluation Appeals for Council workers (non-schools), I thought it important to provide an update on progress.

I had originally thought we would get through all of the outstanding issues including schools before Christmas break. This is not going to happen.

However I do expect all outstanding issues for Council workers (non-schools), will be completed early in the New Year.

As a consequence of not completing the Appeals for Council workers (non-schools), we are only starting now to look at the Schools staff Appeals.

I would like to recap on the two types of Appeals:

Group Appeals 

This is an appeal for a job where there are a number of post holders such as Teaching Assistant, ICT technician, Nursery Nurse, School Business Manager. The impact of a Group Appeal directly impacts on all post holders in that role.

Individual Appeals

These are appeals for unique post holders, that is where there is only one person holding that particular job (it could be a job share).

Grounds for Appeal

I know there has been confusion as to what to put down as grounds for appeal, some members have been specific and others have ticked all the boxes. I want to assure UNISON members this will not disadvantage you, because it will be at the Stage 1 meeting where we establish what the issue is. In terms of feedback so far, fewer than 20% of the meetings I am having are actual true appeals. Often there are other issues which need other solutions.

 Stage 1 meetings in schools

At these meetings there will be someone from UNISON, the member, a Barnet Council HR representative and the Head (or other senior manager in the school). At this meeting we will discuss the issue and the possible solutions. I have already requested a number of Stage 1 meetings to be arranged.

Stage 2 meetings

This is a meeting with the member accompanied by UNISON at which we jointly present our case to an Appeal Panel (consisting of a member of HR and a union rep) for an appeal against the grade.

*** Please note it is very important that UNISON members do not go to any formal Stage 1 or Stage 2 meetings without their UNISON rep present. All Stage 1 & 2 meetings will, if possible take place in the school.

52 weeks Teaching Assistants

A meeting is being convened to discuss the 3.4% loss after which I will report on the agreed way forward.

Nursery Nurses

A meeting is being convened to discuss the 3.4% loss after which I will report on the agreed way forward.

Solidarity

John Burgess

Branch Secretary Barnet UNISON

 

Unified Pay Update 18 October 2016

To: All Barnet UNISON members employed directly by Barnet Council (including schools) only.

Contact details: Members can contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Collective issues

For example where there are number of workers with the same job description all raising the same issue for example Nursery Nurses, TA’s on 52 week contracts, Coach Escorts. Meal Time Supervisors. » Read more

At the end of consultation UNISON has submitted a report on behalf of our members which recommends the following:

1. Reverse the proposed deletion of social work posts.
2. Reverse the proposed deletion of Principle Practitioner posts.
3. Enter into urgent negotiations with Trade Unions to address the recruitment & retention crisis for Approved Mental Health Practitioners (AMPH).
4. Any decision to restructure Mental Health Services must be submitted to General Functions Committee.

A copy of the full report will be sent to our members in Mental Health. Interestingly the restructure also repeats a pattern in the rest of Adults and Communities which is to delete Social Worker roles in favour of radically increasing the numbers of Assessment and Enablement Officers to do the same work but for less pay! We think this is highly risky.

You can read the full report here 2016-10-12-unison-response

 

 

 

 

 

Barnet UNISON have submitted our report to Barnet Council Environmental Committee which is meeting on Thursday 28 September to discuss outsourcing options for Street Scene Services.

One of the biggest risks is not classified as a risk, but a dependency (p37, IOBC). This is very surprising since the ADM “…is operationally dependent on the relocation of the depot facilities. Any delay, or unforeseen amendment, to the depot relocation will not only have a subsequent impact on day-to-day service delivery operations (‘business as usual’) but could also impact the delivery of the ADM.” (Barnet UNISON report 2016) » Read more

To: All Barnet UNISON members employed directly by Barnet Council (including schools) only.

Contact details:

Members can contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Deadlines

I know that before the summer there was a lot of pressure placed on staff to submit appeals even if they were unsure of the grounds. I can advise all of our members that as long as they have registered the appeal and notified the branch then they will have a 1:1, or a group meeting if the appeal is a collective appeal, with UNISON. Once you have met with UNISON, depending on the agreed way forward, UNISON will deal directly with the Unified pay team and HR. If you are unsure about any of the advice please contact the branch.

Submit your Appeals

Please submit your Appeal to Unified Reward Team, HR Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London, N11 1NP.

Collective issues

For example where there are number of workers with the same job description all raising the same issue for example Nursery Nurses, TA’s on 52 week contracts, Coach Escorts. Meal Time Supervisors.

Individual issues.

There can be a myriad of issues,  which is why it is important that UNISON members with any concerns make urgent contact with the UNISON office

There are two groups of workers Barnet UNISON is currently supporting.

1. Council corporate workforce (not schools)

Over the summer break I have been meeting with some of our members to discuss the details of their issues. These have been a mixture of collective and individual issues. Individual issues will need to be dealt with in 1:1 meetings with UNISON. If you have an individual issue and you have not yet been contacted by UNISON, please contact the branch.

Below is a brief overview of the collective issues in the various Service Delivery Units which I am pushing to be resolved over the next few weeks.

 Street Scene

I have had meetings with HR and management to look at the following roles

• Coach Escorts
• Commercial Vehicle Technicians
• Waste & Recycling drivers

 Adults

There are a number of individual appeals/issues

Two local agreements covering Weekend Working and Practice Teaching payments have been signed off

 Commissioning

I have begun discussions with HR about a number of posts which will befollwoing up with individual members in due course.

Family Services

• Duty Support Officer
• Personal Advisor

The above roles have been the subject of a number of discussions as to how to move forward.

The Library service has recently submitted a local agreement for Sunday working payments,  which is due to be signed off.

2. Council school staff (does not include Faith, Voluntary Aided schools and Academies)

The UNISON school team is now available to support members. Louis Smyth on Mondays & Tuesdays, and Nadia Joseph on Fridays during Term Time.

The following posts are subject to collective appeals with discussions due to start with the Council. If you are in one of the posts below and you are projected to lose pay in April 2018 it is important that you submit the appeal form before 19 September and send a copy to the UNISON office.

• Nursery Nurses (retainer issue)
• Teaching Assistants (52 week contract issue)
• Meal Time Supervisors

 If you have any issues that are not included in the above three roles please submit the appeal form before 19 September and send a copy to the UNISON office.

 

3. Do I need to sign or not sign my new contract?

Barnet Council has already issued all its corporate staff (not schools) with new contracts following the Unified Pay agreement.

The letter accompanying the contract asks staff to sign the new contract detailing the new Terms & Conditions.

Whilst the majority of workers will have no concerns about signing the new contract there are some who will want to seek advice before signing.

For example any worker who is querying their new grade or the content of the Terms & Conditions.

I have spoken to the Council and no worker will be told they have to sign the contract immediately.

Please make sure you keep a copy of your contract in a safe place.

If you are in doubt ring the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk in order we can provide some advice.

If anyone feels they are being forced into signing the contract please make urgent contact with the UNISON office.

**** SCHOOLS STAFF. At some point Barnet Council issue new contracts to all their school staff, when the branch is notified we will alert our members to the above advice.

 

 

 

 

 

Contact details:

Members can contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

 

Further Response to the Library Restructure Staff Consultation

Call for Extension

 Barnet UNISON repeats the call for an extension of the Staff Consultation period, while acknowledging that the Council did not limit this to the legal minimum of 45 days. However, our members have not received all the information they have requested during the consultation period. Neither has Barnet UNISON to date received responses to all points we have raised.

Our members still await answers to questions regarding their pensions and other financial matters. Some members have not had the 1 to 1 meeting with their managers and HR to which they are entitled. This lack of information makes it difficult for our members to take the important decisions that the restructure will impose.

UNSON also has concerns over the nature of the 1 to 1 sessions. These should be conducted so colleagues can learn how the proposed restructure will affect them and in order to have their specific personal and wider concerns answered. However, questions are being put to Library staff by the Council regarding the rationale of the library cuts and they are being asked for alternatives to the library cuts. This is not the forum for the Council to ask individual members of staff these questions, many of whom will already find the 1 to 1 meetings a difficult and stressful process. » Read more

Dear UNISON members

Do I need to sign or not sign my new contracts?

Barnet Council is issuing all its staff with new contracts following the Unified Pay agreement.

The letter asks staff to sign the new contract detailing the new Terms & Conditions.

Whilst the majority of workers will have no concerns about signing the new contract there are some who will want to seek advice before signing.

For example any worker who is querying their new grade or the content of the Terms & Conditions.

I have spoken to the Council and no worker will be told they have to sign the contract immediately.

Please make sure you keep a copy of your contract in a safe place.

If you are in doubt ring the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk in order we can provide some advice.

If anyone feels they are being forced into signing the contract please make urgent contact with the UNISON office.

Schools staff

I have been advised that new contracts for all Barnet Council schools staff are going out later, but the advice as above will also apply. As soon as we know the date Barnet Council will be issuing new contracts we will be in touch again.

Help with understanding Unified Pay

We do understand that some of the communication from the Council has been confusing which is why Barnet UNISON wants to make sure all of our members have an opportunity to understand what the agreement will mean for them individually.

I am leading on Appeals together with other trained UNISON reps for our members and 1 to 1 meetings are already being arranged.

If you have not yet formally registered your appeal/concerns please inform the council at Unified Reward helpline on 0330 606 4444 (option 1) or email barnethrpayroll@capita-services.co.uk or Unified.reward@barnet.gov.uk and send a copy of your appeal/concerns to the UNISON office.

Collective issues.

For some staff, for example Coach Escorts and Nursery Nurses there are shared collective issues for all of the staff in that particular role; in which case we will be acting on behalf of all of our members in each of these particular roles. It would be helpful for our records and preparation that members in these roles provide UNISON with a copy of their letters.

Time for you.

It is important to let all of our members that we have time to meet and discuss options, whilst the Council has changed the deadlines for Appeals, there is a willingness from the Council for each member of staff to have the right to raise their appeal/concerns. The procedure being followed is UNISON meetings are being scheduled with before a meeting is organised with the Council.

 

 

John Burgess

Branch Secretary

Barnet UNISON