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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ‘Capitaville’-Capita to takeover more Barnet Council services.

20th May 2013 admin Uncategorised

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ‘Capitaville’-Capita to takeover more Barnet Council services.

Today staff were told at a series of briefings that Capita Symonds is the preferred bidder to deliver a whole range of Council Regulatory services to Barnet residents and businesses.

The services to be handed over to Capita include the following:

Trading Standards & Licensing, Land Charges, Planning & Development, Building Control & Structures, Environmental Health, Highways Strategy, Highways Network Management, Highways Traffic & Development, Highways Transport & Regeneration, Strategic Planning & Regeneration, Hendon Cemetery & Crematoria

Barnet Council has a number of statutory responsibilities to monitor the private sector in order to ensure the health and safety of their residents. The recent high- profile national public-health scandal about the use of Horsemeat in processed foods emphasises that private companies do not adequately monitor their own activities, leaving the public at risk. If Barnet Council is allowed to privatise these services, it will set a dangerous precedent for other councils.

Barnet Council has been promoting itself as an innovator for the future of public services by adopting the Commissioning Council model. In the last 12 months the Council has overseen a significant number of services outsourced to other providers. The full list of services are here.

John Burgess UNISON Branch Secretary said: “Barnet Council is making a huge mistake in handing over these critical services to the private sector. It is not just about the risks this brings but what it means in term of democratic accountability. Next year we have the local elections in May 2014. What options will there be for the electorate if all the council spend is tied up into complex contracts? As for all the remaining staff the message is stark: no matter how loyal you are, no matter how hard you work political dogma is dictating all services are to be outsourced. Today a number of our members have chosen to wear black armbands/ black clothing as a sign of the demise of the public sector ethos in Barnet Council.”

***** Ends *****

Notes to Editors.

Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or 0208 359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk

Links

1. What is One Barnet watch this short animation http://ning.it/Qp5Adx

2. UNISON report on One Barnet DRS contract http://ning.it/11OQWlQ

3. UNISON financial report on One Barnet DRS contract http://ning.it/12mocvO

4. One hundred PLUS reasons why One Barnet is high risk and bad for residents and services http://ning.it/NAyJLY

5. 397 jobs “The true cost of One Barnet outsourcing” http://ning.it/11OSuMT

One Barnet explained simple and easy

19th May 2013 admin Uncategorised

10 steps to learn more about One Barnet

19th May 2013 admin Uncategorised

1. Watch the film ‘A Tale of Two Barnets’ http://ning.it/PUBMVP

2. Listen to Ken Loach talk about the One Barnet Billion Pound Gamble Film http://ning.it/PIzXpv

3. Watch the Billion Pound Gamble Film Trailer http://ning.it/PvZYxF

4. Listen to Mr Reasonable explain all about the OneBarnet magical box http://ning.it/P4vPVW

5. Watch the Billion Pound Gamble Animation http://ning.it/Qp5Adx

6. Watch Barnet Residents occupy Hendon Town Hall http://ning.it/W7a08n

7. Listen to a Barnet resident speak at Barnet Full Council meeting http://ning.it/WgcUZ2

8. Learn about the Occupation of Friern Library here http://ning.it/W7alIe

9. Save Friern campaign showing how to campaign against the cuts http://ning.it/XhYQ1R

10. Watch the excellent short film called ‘A Polite Revolution’ http://ning.it/W7b7Fc

National Pay Grades

13th May 2013 admin Uncategorised

To view pay scales click here

JOIN “Save our NHS London demo” Saturday 18 May 2013

12th May 2013 admin Uncategorised

NJC Pay 2013/14 – Branch Consultation Begins on Final Offer

9th May 2013 admin Uncategorised

NJC Pay 2013/14 – Branch Consultation Begins on Final Offer

At its meeting on 7 May 2013, the UNISON NJC Committee agreed to hold a formal consultation under the Service Group Pay Consultation Procedures on the Employers’ 2013/14 final NJC pay offer which is attached.

UNISON’s NJC Committee’s Views on the offer

The UNISON NJC Committee’s view is that the employers’ below-inflation pay offer (to view click here) falls far below the aspirations in our 2013-14 pay claim and what our members deserve. It means a further pay cut for our members after a three-year pay freeze. However, the Committee also believes that it is the best offer achievable by negotiation and that only sustained, all-out strike action can achieve an improved pay offer.

UNISON Branches are being asked to consult members on that basis and the Committee will be meeting on Thursday 13 June 2013 to consider the results of the consultation.

The NJC Trade Unions

At the meeting of the NJC Trade Union Side also held 7 May, it was agreed that all three unions will consult their members on the basis that the offer is the best achievable by negotiation. GMB and UNITE are finalising their consultation arrangements but anticipate ending their consultations by the beginning of July.

The Trade Union Side also reaffirmed its view that the negotiators should not negotiate over Part 2 conditions. It was strongly felt that the Employers’ ‘offer’ letter had misconstrued the trade unions’ approach to bargaining over conditions. We had been prepared to discuss a new ‘green’ travel policy and sickness absence management and other issues such as carers’ leave. Sadly, the employers had made it clear that any new conditions would not be included in the Green Book, that cuts to other conditions would have to be made to pay for them and that councils in the NJC who had already cut conditions would not be required to comply with any agreed new ones!!!! It is clear that they are living in a fantasy land in which they cannot confront the reality of the NJC’s ‘bargain basement’ conditions.

THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

It is vital that as many members as possible take part in the consultation on the 2013/14 offer.

Our branch will be carrying out an online ballot look out for our GO LIVE ballot notifications

We will be discussing the Pay Offer at our branch meeting on 21 May.

Further information on the Pay Offer click here and here