Contacting the Branch

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If you have any questions or need any support please contact the Branch Office

 contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Or you can call 020 8359 2088, if we are unable to answer the telephone please leave a message speaking slowly and clearly please include your name, telephone number, membership number and a brief message about the assistance you require. We will respond as soon as we can.

Alternatively you can contact UNISON Direct Call Centre by telephone 

08000 857 857 Monday – Friday 6am – Midnight, Saturday 9am – 4pm

or make an online enquiry by clicking the following link

https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/online-enquiries/

To Join UNISON click the following link 

https://join.unison.org.uk/

Bad News for Housing Workers in Barnet Council

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Barnet Group, Barnet Homes, Housing, Local, News, UNISON Campaign

On Tuesday 16 July Barnet Council Cabinet Committee met and agreed to carry on with the outsourced Barnet Homes model of employment.

According to one councillor “If something isn’t broken don’t fix it, is my mantra,”

(You can view the discussion and quote two hours, two minutes and 10 seconds on the Council recording of the meeting access via this link https://rb.gy/6d51j0 )

Barnet UNISON had submitted a report to the Cabinet Committee which members can read by clicking on the link below.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UNISON-Housing-Service-Report-2024.pdf

I have been attending Council Committee meetings as a UNISON rep for almost 28 years and in all that time one thing that stands out when all councillors are speaking about council services is that they fail to acknowledge that without the workforce there would be no services for residents.

For instance, where they are discussing a decision which has a fundamental impact on the workforce, they refuse to allow UNISON to speak and answer questions from councillors about our own report and recommendations.

Barnet UNISON has hundreds of outsourced members who are all providing services on behalf of Barnet Council, yet they are not entitled to Barnet Council Terms and Condition or access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Over the past 15 years outsourcing services has been the direction of travel for many of our members.

What councillors and senior officers who draft the reports promoting the outsourcing don’t want to discuss is the detrimental impact of outsourcing on the workforce. They are keen to offer words of comfort, but as our members know words of comfort do not pay the rent, the energy bills, the food shop. There is no discount for outsourced workers when the council tax bill arrives, or travel cost go up again.

We are in the worst cost of living crisis in 77 years and many of our members in the outsourced workforce need to two jobs to survive and even that is not enough, and they are forced to rely on food banks.

What we have in Barnet is a Two-Tier workforce and it is our duty as a trade union to try and negotiate an end to outsourcing.

For Housing workers, it is deeply disappointing that members of the committee do not see the connection between how the staff are treated in terms of pay and terms and conditions and service delivery.

There is only one other ALMO in London whilst every other Housing worker is on Council Terms and Conditions with access to the Pension scheme.

Barnet UNISON believes that Housing workers deserve better which is why we are supporting UNISON National Policy “Bringing Services Home” campaign.

Look out for our communications which start in the Autumn. A campaign must involve member not just the reps.

If you are a Housing worker and have a question, please email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

John Burgess Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.

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https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UNISON-Housing-Service-Report-2024.pdf

Mental Health Social Workers visit ADASS headquarters

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, News, Recruitment, Report, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

On Wednesday 26 June 2024 a group of Barnet UNISON mental health social workers paid a visit to the London Headquarters of Association of Directors of Social Services (ADASS).

The purpose of the visit was to deliver their letter of concern to ADASS.

On this occasion our letter was accepted.

You can view our letter by clicking the link below.

FINAL LETTER TO ADASS

 

End.

 

Our strikers paid a visit to CQC offices in London

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Disability, Local, News, Report, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

 

On Wednesday 12 June 11.30 am Barnet UNISON mental health social worker strikers went to CQC London office to hand in a letter to CQC outlining the serious issues facing mental health services in Barnet.

Our strikers made their way to the plush offices in the new developments surrounding Stratford station.

At reception we asked to meet someone from CQC in order that we could hand over our letter.

What happened next was bizarre. CQC refused to accept our letter. A member of security came and spoke to us and explained they would not accept our letter.

We pointed out that (see in the screenshot of CQC website) that it states very clearly that:

“You can leave information or documentation at the main reception.”

It was obvious CQC were not prepared to receive our letter of concern.

Later, we sent the letter by registered post, and we now have confirmation that someone signed to confirm they now have possession of our letter.

You can read our letter by clicking on the link below.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FINAL-LETTER-TO-CQC.pdf

As of Wednesday 26 June 2024, no one from CQC has contacted the branch.

End.

 

 

Barnet UNISON: “BANNERS HELD HIGH” lobby : Tuesday 9 July 6 pm.

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Demonstration, Health and Safety, Local, News, Recruitment, Report, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

On behalf of our mental health social worker strikers, in solidarity with the 40th Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, Barnet UNISON is inviting supporters to our:

“BANNERS HELD HIGH” lobby of Barnet Council Full Council

Tuesday 9 July 6pm outside Hendon Town Hall, NW4 4BG

The nearest tube station is Hendon station on the northern line. Turn right out of the station for a 10-minute walk up the hill then turn right at the top and the Town Hall is a one-minute walk on the left.

In 2015, our branch had the honour to march through Thatcher’s back yard with the late Davey Hopper and the Durham Miners banner, and the iconic LGSM banner.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2015/09/11/join-the-original-members-of-lesbians-gays-support-miners-durham-miners-union-barnet-unison-on-kids4libraries-march/

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2016/06/10/message-of-solidarity-from-davy-hopper/

This lobby will mark the end of nine weeks of continuous strike action. By the end of this strike action our strikers will have taken 81 days of strike action which started in September 2023.

Our strikers have stood up to the worst gaslighting and intimidation that our branch has seen ever.

Over the past four weeks Labour controlled Barnet Council has paid for a recruitment agency to provide social workers to carry out the work our strikers would be doing if they were not on strike.

It is UNISON’s view that this is strikebreaking. Many UNISON members at UNISON conference agreed, along with our General Secretary Christina McAnea listen below.

https://youtu.be/Wyl9UxFp5LA?feature=shared

The actions of Barnet Council to employ Tory tactics and anti-union laws to strike break is an attack on the trade union movement as it provides cover for other employers to use the same tactics to break other strikes.

This is why there needs to mobilisation across the trade union movement publicly condemning strike breaking not just for our strike but all strikes.

You can provide support by calling out the Leader of Labour controlled Barnet Council by joining hundreds of trade union members and supporters in signing and sharing this statement.

https://bit.ly/barnetstrike

As trade unionists Barnet UNISON believes we should applaud our striker’s commitment which is why our branch is asking trade union members across the country to make plans to attend this lobby and most importantly to bring banners/placards to Hendon Town Hall.

Please feel free to circulate this call to action to any who would like to support our lobby.

If you organise social workers, please feel free to share.

Finally, please let our strikers know if you are able to attend by sending an email to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

In Solidarity

Barnet UNISON

 

End.

Thousands of UNISON members to join Barnet UNISON picket line!

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Conference, Local, National, News, Recruitment, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

On Friday 21 June around 10 am UNISON Conference will join Barnet UNISON mental health social workers picket line.

This week is the UNISON National Delegates Conference where thousands of delegates from UNISON branches meet to debate and discuss.

UNISON Conference this year is based in Brighton but on Friday morning UNISON are wanting to show solidarity with our strikers by beaming a live link from outside Labour controlled Barnet Councils main office in Colindale.

On Friday 21 June our strikers will have taken 66 days of strike action over a ten-month period. They are currently in week six of a nine-week strike.

During the conference this week UNISON members have been queuing up to condemn the Labour controlled Barnet Council for employing agency workers for what UNISON believes is strike breaking.

We are asking our supporters to do the following.

1. Join us at our Lobby of Labour controlled Barnet Council Committee meeting on Tuesday 9 July 6pm outside Hendon Town Hall NW4 4BG

2. Sign and share our solidarity statement here https://bit.ly/barnetstrike

3. Send a message to our strikers to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

4. Donate to our industrial action fund by emailing our branch for details contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

5. Write or email: Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council at Email: cllr.b.rawlings@barnet.gov.uk or  Write to: London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, London NW9 4EW.

6. Request a striker to speak at one of your UNISON meetings.

End.

 

 

 

 

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