JOIN THE 999 PEOPLE’S MARCH FOR THE NHS
As it enters London after marching 300 miles on Saturday 6 SEPTEMBER
10.00 Depart Edmonton Green
11.45 Saturday lunch in Clissold Park, Hackney
14.00 MARCH TO PARLIAMENT
Assemble Unite Head office, 128 Theobald’s Road, WC1X 8TN to join the final stage of the march
15.30 RALLY IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE
http://999callfornhs.org.uk/london-rally/4585674915
Barnet UNISON Press Release: 8 August 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Your Choice Barnet Care Workers voted on 90% majority to take strike action
Barnet UNISON has concluded a ballot of care workers based on a slightly improved “offer” from Your Choice Barnet following the close of negotiations in mid-July. The offer still means our members would lose 8.31% from their wages rather than 9.5%. It still represents a swingeing cut to their wages at a time when other workers up and down the country have rejected a 1% per cent pay rise. On a 73% turnout 90% voted in favour of taking action to reinstate their pay.
During the negotiations YCB was very open regarding their finances. Even if our members took this hit on their wages now, YCB could not guarantee this would be an end to the cuts in pay even in the short term. Indeed their proposed budget for the next year breaks even only if they pay nothing on the loan from Barnet Homes. YCB confirmed in the negotiations this left a huge funding gap. This lack of reassurance from YCB that they would not be coming back for more cuts undoubtedly contributed to the resounding rejection of the latest pay cut.
What the negotiations did reveal is the scandalous charging arrangements foisted onto YCB, which make it difficult to see how YCB can be financially viable in the future without making the workers pay an even heftier price. Significantly where a service user fails to turn up to the day service e.g. because they are sick, YCB cannot charge for the service. Yet YCB will have organised their staffing based on those service users turning up and have to bear the brunt of those staffing costs when the service user does not appear. Many service users need 1 to 1 support. The failure to turn up or “no shows” costs YCB a significant loss of income. This significant sum of money would go a long way to restoring our members’ wages. Barnet Council is refusing to pay YCB for these “no shows” and yet this is a company wholly owned by Barnet Council!
Our members pointed to the fact that if they were to cancel their child’s childcare arrangements without a week’s notice, they are still charged. For any course, you have to pay up front and turn up or lose the money. So if we are to adopt an “oh-so- very-private-sector” ethos how can this charging arrangement for YCB be allowed?
UNISON Branch Secretary John Burgess said:
“We need urgent talks between Barnet Council and Your Choice Barnet to come to an arrangement whereby YCB has a real future and our members and service users do not have to continue to take the brunt of the financial failures imposed on them by Barnet Council.”
Notes to Editors.
Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on 07738389569 or 0208 359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk
Background:
In February 2012 Barnet Council transferred Learning Disability and Physical and Sensory Impairment services for adults to a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) called Your Choice Barnet (YCB). About 160 staff (145.6 Full Time Equivalents) in Adults services transferred to the LATC.
Following a restructure in 2013 and cuts to pay on shift allowances there are now only about 105 FTE working for YCB a 30% cut in staffing levels.
Links
1. Barnet UNISON response to Your Choice Barnet Consultation Paper
2. ‘The way out of financial crisis’ Analysis of Consultation Paper Your Choice Barnet Ltd The Barnet Group Ltd (Local Authority Trading Company), London Borough of Barnet
http://www.socialworkfuture.org/attachments/article/330/CADDSS%20analysis%20.pdf
3. Barnet UNISON Report: The Barnet Group Ltd, Local Authority Trading Company: Privatising Adults and Housing Services
4. Stop the ongoing destruction of services for adults with disabilities in Barnet petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-ongoing-destruction-of-services-for-adults-with-disabilities-in-barnet
Briefly Barnet Council are looking to implement a new pay and grading structure, modernise and harmonise allowances together with our terms and conditions of employment. This is a massive project and the Council are looking to do this through collective bargaining with the Trade Unions.
Please see click here to read some of the key things the council have informed staff about Unified Pay and how you can become involved.
Terms & Conditions Health Warning:
We are concerned that because of the ongoing changes in the workplace, many of our members are only just starting to hear about Unified Pay.
This short booklet is intended to highlight some of the issues and start a process whereby we can begin to inform and consult with all of our members working for Barnet Council including those staff working in community schools.
It is really important that staff are engaging in discussion about the content of their job descriptions and the whole process which is why we are embarking on a series of meetings/briefings across the workforce (click on link here for details).
“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 10th 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:
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
First of all our branch wants to thank all of our supporters for the ongoing messages of support we are still getting from other trade union branches, members, residents, parents & carers. This support means a lot to our members.
As a result of productive talks with YCB and ACAS on 13 June YCB are reinstating the former pay of all YCB staff for the month of July only.
This Friday 4 July Barnet UNISON are meeting with YCB as part of a series of meetings to try and avert a strike over the 9.5% cut to their pay imposed on 1 April 2014.
In the interim, Barnet UNISON has requested more detailed financial information in order to see if there are any opportunities to find an alternative to 9.5% cut to our member’s terms and conditions.
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.
