Silent Grenfell march Saturday 14 September 7 pm start
If you would like to join the Barnet UNISON banner on the march simply contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
If you would like to join the Barnet UNISON banner on the march simply contact the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Important Announcement: John Burgess Branch Secretary
Dear Members
Our Branch Secretary John Burgess is currently off sick and at this time we are unable to say when he will return.
The reason for this announcement is to alert members that our resources are reduced at this time as we do not have any resources to cover his absence.
We are working hard to prepare a plan by which we can ensure that are still able to support all of our members regardless of their employer.
If you are in need of support please make sure you ring the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
We are asking all of our reps to call into the office is you feel able to offer some support to the branch.
I am sure all of our members would want to wish John a speedy recovery.
The Branch Meeting on 4th September at 12.30pm in Colindale Conference Suite 1, will still be taking place.
Thanks,
Helen Davies
Branch Chair
Barnet UNISON
There has been a serious catalogue of failure by Capita in regards to the Administration of Barnet Council Pension Scheme. The Pensions Regulator has recently issued another warning over the performance of Capita.
This is why Barnet UNISON is offering a FREE Pension Health check for all members who are in Barnet Council Pension Scheme.
Important Update
All members of the Pension Scheme should be receiving in the post their 2019 Annual Benefit Statement in early September 2019.
When you have received yours and would like to understand it better or wish to have it checked then please contact the Barnet UNISON office for a 1-1 meeting by e-mail to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
If by 1 October 2019 you have not received your 2019 Annual Benefit Statement please contact Barnet UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or e-mail contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Barnet UNISON branch thinks it’s important to bridge the gap between the call for #ClimateChangeStrike #20Sept and how the causes of #ClimateChange are directly impacting on the health and wellbeing of our members.
Trade Unions have a long history of taking up health and safety issues on behalf of their members.
It’s important that the campaign to deal with #ClimateChange doesn’t treat it as an abstract issue that affects someone else.
The causes of #ClimateChange are real and are already having an effect in workplaces all over the world.
Our branch has already begun discussions with Barnet Council about air pollution and we are due to meet later this month.
In the meantime we are beginning conversations with our members via leaflets, online videos which we are posting on our social media sites and in our weekly eNews communication.
Here are two very simple but effective videos made by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
What does Air Pollution PM 2.5 do inside children’s body and brain?
“Breathe Life – How air pollution impacts your body” World Health Organisation (WHO)
Earlier this month our branch executive passed a motion entitled:
End the causes of Climate Change – a Call for Urgent Action and Solidarity which you can read here:
Please sign our End the causes of Climate Change Petition now 👇👇👇👇👇
https://www.change.org/p/london-borough-of-barnet-climate-change
This is an Emergency Please sign our Petition now
https://www.change.org/p/london-borough-of-barnet-climate-change
End the causes of Climate Change – a Call for Urgent Action and Solidarity Motion.
Branch notes:
Branch believes:
Branch resolves:
Barnet UNISON notes the dangers air pollution can have on our members working in Barnet.
We have already started discussions with Barnet Council about what can be done to mitigate the dangers of breathing in polluted air.
It is important our members understand the risks and what measures their employer can take to help both mitigate and or reduce the risk of air pollution.
The following video entitled “Breathe Life – How air pollution impacts your body” was made by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It is a short and easy to understand video.
There is a Climate Emergency and it is impacting on all of us now. It would be wrong to ignore it. Action is needed now. Please keep up to date by ensuring you receive our weekly Barnet UNISON eNews email by contacting the branch on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Corporate Anti-Fraud Team (CAFT) Annual Report 2018/19
2018-19 saw CAFT officers investigate and prosecute an unprecedented internal financial fraud. In Response to his officer resource was diverted from all sections within the team to deal with the investigation. The case was given the name Operation Rouble which subsequently proved to be the most challenging, complex and substantial fraud that Barnet has experienced.
Further details of the investigation can be found in the noteworthy investigation section, and full details of the external review into financial control conducted by Grant Thornton is available on the council’s website Financial controls https://www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/council-and-democracy/finance-and-funding/Financial-controls.html
Barnet UNISON has a large number of members some of whom work outside for all of their time or a large part of their time in work.
The dangers of air pollution has become increasingly more worrying, numerous reports have produced data that show dangerous levels of toxins in the air.
The Times Newspaper recently published an article entitled:
“London air pollution mapped: how does your child’s school compare?”
(Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/london-air-pollution-mapped-how-does-your-childs-school-compare-nqxbbm8nl 9 May 2019)
“An analysis of 2,000 school sites shows that pupils at every school in the capital are exposed to an annual average higher than 10 micrograms per cubic metre, the level recommended by the World Health Organisation.”
Barnet UNISON downloaded the data and discovered 91 Barnet schools had been exposed to air pollution which exceeded the recommended limits by the World Health Organisation.
You can download the spreadsheet by clicking the link below
The following are a series of questions that our branch is seeking answers to.
If you have answers to these questions please email the branch on contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
Dear Member
I am writing to you because Barnet Council has issued a staff survey without any consultation with Barnet UNISON.
Why we are asking our members not to complete the survey.
Barnet UNISON believes that Street Scene workers should be treated equally with all other Council workers.
This survey has clearly been designed to undermine your Terms and Conditions.
If the Council wants to discuss any changes to your hours, your pay, your sick pay, your annual leave, your training, your health and safety then they should discuss this with your union.
Before signing anything you have the right to consult with your union.
If it is good enough for other Council workers it should be good enough for Street Scene workers.
For example here are some of the questions they are asking.
As a Barnet employee which of the following is the MOST important to you? (Tick one option)
☐ 30 days Annual Leave
☐ Paid Sick Leave
As a Barnet employee which of the following is the MOST important to you? (Tick one option)
☐ Training on Saturdays
☐ 30 days Annual Leave
As a Barnet employee which of the following is the MOST important to you? (Tick one option)
☐ Training on Saturdays
☐ Paid Sick Leave
We have written to the Chief Executive asking for this survey to be pulled.
Best wishes
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON
The reports on data quality issues with the Capita Pension Administration Service based in Darlington have been many.
I noticed that there is another Data Quality Report submitted for the Pension Fund Committee, on Thursday 30 May 2019
(See here https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s52720/Data%20Quality%20Report.pdf )
It reminded me of the Open Portal web site all members of the Council Pension Scheme had access to before Capita took over.
It was taken down in 2014 with a promise that it would be back up soon.
It’s 24 May 2019 and it is not available and worrying Capita seem to think it was not in the contract to provide such a portal.
Whenever I need to check out the contract there is only one person to contact and that is Barnet Blogger Mr Reasonable I contacted him because I was convinced it must be in the contract and literally five minutes later he sent over the relevant section in the Capita contract.
The specific requirement can be found in the HR Method Statement (which is attached as a PDf document)
Final_HR_Method_Statement_Mar2013_Capita_redacted (1)
Scroll down to Page 30, paragraph (emphasis mine)
2.8 PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION / OUTPUT SPECIFICATION REF: HR008
“Members will also have access their pension information via the web portal. This on-line service gives the members the facility to perform ‘what-if’ calculations, view and update their personal information including nominees. Benefit statements and other scheme documentation will be available for current and deferred members. Pensioners will have access and be able to view all their payslips and P60s.”
I can’t even begin to explain how useful this would be for members of the Pension Scheme, ironically if this had been implemented it would have saved resources for Capita.
Have I notified the Council?
Yes, I have raised this immediately with the Council.
I have two questions.
At this moment of publication Capita are still providing our Pension Service and their Share Price is £1.05 p a share. See below