Barnet UNISON

sdsdasDas

2011-11-02T16:50:00.000Z

Heroes

2011-09-17T15:45:00.002+01:00

PRIVATE SECTOR FAT CATS

2011-08-23T20:08:00.001+01:00

Barnet Independence Day - Hollywood version

2011-08-05T19:06:00.003+01:00

Tuesday 13 September is Barnet Independence Day

How to fight cuts to services - Southampton UNISON - Proud to be in a fi...

2011-07-31T21:20:00.000+01:00

Proud to be in UNISON

2011-07-30T16:43:00.002+01:00

The Big Con

2011-07-17T13:14:00.005+01:00

Francis Maude Cabinet Office Minister caught out live on the Today Programme BBC Radio Four

The Big Con

They want your Pension to pay off their mates in the Financial Sector

Top of the TUPE PLUS

2011-07-17T12:58:00.002+01:00

Future of Barnet Council - Star Trek version??

2008-08-26T22:03:00.003+01:00

Barnet UNISON members it may seem far fetched but the consultation currently taking place is looking into the future to see where, what and how services will be delivered to Barnet residents. It would be good if we could jump on a space ship and travel to the Future, but we can't.

It is important you get involved, make sure you come along to this series of Barnet UNISON meetings.

DOUBLE CLICK ON THE IMAGE IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY IN VIEWING THE IMAGE

The Barnet UNISON Young Members Community

2008-08-08T13:13:00.001+01:00

We are currently in the process of establishing a Young Members Community within the Barnet branch of UNISON, open to all members aged 28 or younger. The community will offer our younger members greater support and an opportunity to voice concerns on issues that disproportionately affect them most. This will include the difficulties of debt, youth exploitation, buying a home, stress at work and career progression. We will also be looking at getting involved in various wider campaigns, working with the youth sectors of regional UNISON and the TUC, as well as our local MP. There will be a social element to the community too, as it will provide a great chance for those wanting to get involved to meet people of a similar age across the Barnet local government workforce. One initiative that we are looking at is the chance for our members to go to next years summer festivals for free by part-time volunteering for the Barnet Trades Council behind the bars!

If you are interested in getting involved and are a UNISON member aged 28 or younger, then please come to our first meeting on 26th August at the UNISON office at North London Business Park, Building 4 at 6.30pm. Ask at the reception for us and we will come down to meet you on the evening. Refreshments will be provided!
Send me an email to express your interest in the Barnet Young Members Community to: ben.ritchie@barnetunison.org.uk

Latest Fremantle care workers strike...

2008-08-07T19:42:00.010+01:00

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT - You can add yours!

Congratulations from all of us in York City branch on the solid strike action by your Fremantle Care members to win back their proper terms and conditions. Your continuing campaign is an inspiration to all of us up and down the country working for a better deal for Care workers and against privatisation and low pay. Keep us posted and let us know anything we can do to help. Yours in solidarity,
Ben Drake
Branch Secretary, York City UNISON

"the weather may have been against us but justice was on the side of the pickets and I was proud to stand alongside 100% of the Unison members on shift, all of whom had walked out."
Jon Rogers NEC delegate

“A leading social landlord like Catalyst should be setting an example as one of best employers in London. Sadly that is not the case for their Care Home workers. As a result of the London living wage campaign over 5000 low paid workers are now being treated much better by other leading employers, who have recognised the business case for fair pay and conditions of work in efficient companies.”
Rev Paul Nicolson, Trustee, London Citizens

Our Branch sends solidarity greetings to our sisters and brothers at Freemantle.
Your continuing willingness to struggle is an example to the rest of the union. Your campaign is exactly what the union needs to be concentrating its resources and support on.
A victory for you will be a huge boost for workers nationwide.
"Struggle - Solidarity - Socialism"
Onay Kasab
Branch Secretary

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE FREMANTLE STRIKERS ON 7TH AUGUST 2008.
Waltham Forest UNISON sends fraternal greetings and wishes you all the best in your struggle against the penny pinching, profiteering bosses of Freemantle.
We would love to be with you but troubles in our own branch require our attention.
Yours in solidarity
Dave Knight
Branch Secretary

Dear John
On behalf of Hammersmith and Fulham UNISON Local Government, we would like you to extend our best wishes to the Fremantle workers. We wish them the best of luck in their action tomorrow. Our branch will continue to support Barnet and the Fremantle workers fight for a fair and just outcome. Your campaign is vital for us all and highlights the issues workers face from the privatisation of public services.
Best Regards to you all.
Yours in Unity
Noreen Morris
Branch Secretary
UNISON Hammersmith and Fulham

John,
Please can you give solidarity greetings from Hackney Unison to all Fremantle workers who for over 12 months have with stood a barrage of attacks from their management, and have been forced to take strike action to defend themselves.
If there is any further support we can give please contact our branch.
We will be having a Branch Committee on Thursday 14 August 10-00am to 12-30pm at 302 Mare Street Hackney E8 1HA.
We would be happy to invite a speaker and hopefully make a donation towards your strike fund.
Brian Debus
Chair Hackney Unison

John
I am really sorry but I will be on holiday with my family next week. Please could you pass on a message of solidarity from me to everyone engaged in the dispute.
I will try and get the info around.
Let me know how I can help when I get back.
Thanks
John McDonnell MP

TO ALL THE FREMANTLE CARE WORKERS
Congratulations on the re-launch of your campaign and your continuing fight to defend your terms and conditions. You are an inspiration to us all. Sorry I can't be with you on 7 August. Good luck and very best wishes.
Yours in solidarity
Phil O'Reilly
Branch Secretary, Brent Unison

Dear John
On behalf of Hammersmith and Fulham UNISON Local Government, we would like you to extend our best wishes to the Fremantle workers. We wish them the best of luck in their action tomorrow. Our branch will continue to support Barnet and the Fremantle workers fight for a fair and just outcome. Your campaign is vital for us all and highlights the issues workers face from the privatisation of public services.
Best Regards to you all.
Yours in Unity
Noreen Morris
Branch Secretary
UNISON Hammersmith and Fulham

John
Unfortunately I will be away on the 7th but would really appreciate if you could convey the support and solidarity of our members her in Haringey to the Fremantle workers. Their sustained and determined campaign over the last couple of years has been an inspiration to many low paid workers. We experienced the effects of privatisation in our residential care homes in the mid 1990's and a similarly ruthless employer masquerading as a "not for profit charity" Thankfully our workers have since been taken back in house but we are still having to undo the damage caused by the years in the private sector to peoples wages and conditions
Regards
Sean Fox
Branch Secretary Haringey

Greetings and Solidarity to the Fremantle Workers.
I have attended one of your meetings and have been impressed by your determination and strength. Your struggle for decent pay and working conditions is our struggle.You are a shining example of trade union unity in action. An injury to one is an injury to all.
Bahir Laattoe
Barnet Teachers Association, National Union of Teachers

Dear John
Please convey our warmest solidarity to the UNISON members taking part in continuing industrial action against Fremantle on Thursday. Our branch has supported this campaign all along - not just out of pure union solidarity (which is important), but because we know this will be the future for our members working in social care if employers are allowed to get away with it. We have many members working in residential and home care who are currently awaiting the results of various tendering processes and the TUPE transfers that will follow. They are watching the Fremantle dispute very closely and will take on board any lessons learned. Good luck and best wishes in this battle - the overall war against privatisation is far from over.
Comradely yours
Paul Couchman
UNISON (Surrey County)
Branch Secretary

CAMDEN BRANCH OF unison BRINGS SOLIDARITY GREETINGS TO TODAYS PROTEST.
Our branch recognise the huge contribution Fremantle workers have made in raising the profile of low paid privatised workers, and your campaign has been inspirational to thousands of workers in similar positions.
We bring our full support to your strike protest today and pledge our full support to any future days of action that will help you with this essential dispute.
Yours in solidarity
Phoebe Watkins
Convenor Adult Social Care – UNISON
for Camden UNISON

I’ve come today from Tower Hamlets UNISON to offer our continuing support for your struggle.
Fremantle workers continue to be an inspiration to everyone who values workers rights, public services and care for the elderly in particular.
It is a scandal that people like you who provide dedicated care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society face such savage cuts in your living standards,
Keep up the fight
John McLoughlin
Branch Secretary

Fuel bills UP 15 % and rising, Petrol UP 22% and rising, Milk UP 17% and rising, bread UP 9 % and rising, mortgages UP 8 % and rising…….these were the figures UNISON was using in our campaign for fair pay. The day after our successful strike I saw a report on the news predicting Gas bills to leap up to 60% by the end of the Year!

Stop for a moment……our members working for Fremantle had a 30% cut in the terms and conditions, finished off with a 3 year pay freeze! I don’t know how they are managing to cope……the rest of us working in local government know we will be getting at least 2.45%

Our Council is consulting on the future of the Council work force, I know our members are watching with unease as they see former council workers experiencing such horrendous treatment at the hands of a partner of the Council. Many are worried that their service could be next.

So it was good to see the support from our members for what is the beginning of much more substantial strike action across the residential and day care settings in the London Borough of Barnet.

This dispute can end, it just needs Catalyst Housing, Fremantle and Barnet Council to get together and DO THE RIGHT THING…….
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON

Fremantle Care workers campaign relaunch...........

2008-08-04T16:06:00.003+01:00

It is 16 months since Fremantle stole their terms and conditions 1 April 2007 and almost 2 years since the Fremantle care workers campaign began. The Branch has conducted a high profile campaign (reaching a global audience thanks to the efforts of LabourStart) resulting in a successful march and rally in November and a well attended meeting in the House of Commons in December 2007.

Early in 2008 Fremantle care workers had a meeting for members to discuss the future of the campaign. The message from members was clear …..
“We want back what was stolen!”

The Fremantle Stewards Committee were mandated in the meeting to meet with Fremantle to try and reach a negotiated settlement. Unfortunately Fremantle were very clear, they were not prepared to talk about what was stolen. They believe they have already made enough concessions. (their original proposals were to reduce the hourly rate and increase the working week to 39 hours a week instead of 36 along on top of what they stole from our members last year). In effect everything they gained from Single Status was to be removed at the stroke of a pen!

Firstly, and it can not be understated the sheer loss in income our members have had to endure has proved devastating. Over the last twelve months the numbers of staff working 60 hours a week either for Fremantle or with a second and sometimes a third employer has increased. The introduction by Fremantle of a 56 hour ‘waiver’ is evidence of the scale of the problem. We are understandably concerned about the number of hours staff are working. However we do not know how widespread this practice is which is why we have written to Fremantle, unfortunately we have not had a reply.

"Care Workers working 56+ hours a week is it safe for staff and residents? "

Is it right that care staff should have to work 56 hours or more to earn a living wage in London? Radio Four’s Jon Manel recently reported on care for the Elderly. The government last month launched a consultation on how to fund social care. Whatever is decided surely those who must carry out the direct provision of care to the most vulnerable must be well trained and receive a living wage. It is not politicians, commissioners, service providers (well not until they find themselves in a residential or nursing home) who pay the penalty for undermining the provision of social care it is the service users and carers.

It is not just the loss in pay that accounts for why our members do not want to give up hope. It is the knowledge that if they give up their struggle they know that their Pension forecast will drop permanently. Leaving them with the added worry of how they will cope when they retire. This is something Fremantle have not really understood, instead they take refuge behind mind games with our members, accusing the branch ‘of promoting its own views’.

Such poor analysis of this campaign does note bode well, particularly in the context of future challenges facing Fremantle in Barnet. We know that this contract has led to a dispute with Barnet Council. Last year the claim was £8.672 million as it has not been resolved the claim must surely have gone above £10 million. Only three of the planned five new homes have been built. Whatever is going on behind closed doors what is certain is that the contract will surely be re-negotiated. Will the new contract bring an increase in funding for Fremantle? If not will Fremantle come back to our members for more?

No wonder our members are angry and don’t want to give up. UNISON policy is quite clear, organise to resist privatisation and defend our members against attacks on their terms and conditions. Barnet UNISON stands proudly with our member working for Fremantle and will continue to do so as long as they need our help.

Come along and join the Fremantle Care workers on

Thursday 7 August between 12.30 - 1.30 pm

at the following workplaces:

1. Apthorp
Nurserymans Road, New Southgate, London N11 1EQ

2. Meadowside,
60 Holden Road, North Finchley, Barnet, London N12 7DY

3. Rosa Freedman, 17 Claremont Way, Cricklewood,
London NW2 1AJ

4. Merrivale,90 East Road, Burnt Oak, Edgware, Middx, HA8 0BT

5. Dell Field Court,1 Etchingham Park Road, Finchley,
London N3 2DY

Barnet UNISON on the march in central London!

2008-07-17T19:37:00.015+01:00

On our way to the march and rally in central london

2008-07-17T19:33:00.003+01:00

Setting off

Pictures from two days of strike in Barnet

2008-07-17T19:19:00.012+01:00

Phil, Michelle and Wendy UNISON Schools members supporting the Strike

2008-07-17T19:10:00.005+01:00

All three members are teaching assistants in an infant school. None of them are full time and none of them could afford to lose two days pay. BUT the impact of year on year pay cuts meant they felt they had to send a message to Gordon Brown that it is simply not good enough!
Just like TA's around the country they work well beyond their contracted hours because they love the kids and they love the job. But they have to pay bills like everyone else. They just want a Fair Wage.
"The offer from the Government is derisory , its a pay cut, what does 20p an hour mean to me?" (one of the teaching assistants)

Tales from the Picket Line

2008-07-17T18:58:00.004+01:00

One story that has captured my admiration is Dan.

Dan is a UNISON member working in Refuse as a Refuse loader/driver. Dan was our only UNISON member in Refuse until yesterday. On the first day of the strike he showed tremendous courage by taking action when his colleagues in the GMB went into work. (The GMB accepted the 2.45% offer). It would have been easy for Dan to go into work, BUT he felt he had to back his Union.
“What do I pay my subs for? I want to belong to a Union that fights to get the best deal for its members!” (Dan)

The second part of Dan’s story is that several GMB members working in refuse decided that they would not cross the picket line. On both days we had GMB refusing to cross the picket lines. Locally our relationship with GMB is very strong.

The GMB Convenor Paul Coles stood on the Picket line for both days and joined us on the march and rally in central London.

What happens next?
UNISON will be in talks with the National Employers and we may here news sometime over the summer. We heard at the rally in central London that the NUT and PCS were going to be balloting for further strike action in the Autumn, so if we are asked to take further strike action is could mean we may have other Trade Unions on the Picket line with us!

John - UNISON rep on Strike

2008-07-17T18:48:00.002+01:00

"I want to thank all my officers, stewards and most importantly Barnet UNISON members for their efforts to make this a successful strike in Barnet. Clearly it was not an easy decision for members to lose two days pay. I am humbled when some of our lowest paid members turn out to back the strike. They are the ones who are going to have the most difficulty yet they recognise that the Union is doing what they want it to do…..fighting for them!"
John is Branch Secretary for Barnet UNISON

Angus - UNISON Officer on Strike

2008-07-17T18:43:00.003+01:00

"It is quite simple we are falling further and further behind inflation we had no option but to back our Unions call for strike action. I am also worried about the talk about the future for all Council workers in Barnet. I was around when we had CCT and from what I have seen so far we seemed to have learnt nothing from the disasters of CCT. "
Angus is Assistant Branch Secretary (JOB SHARE) for Environmental Services

Paul Coles - GMB Convenor Brent & Hendon Branch

2008-07-17T18:37:00.004+01:00

"Although the GMB accepted the offer I believe in showing solidarity for UNISON members who are striking for fair pay for all Council workers. I give them my support."

Julie - UNISON member on Strike

2008-07-17T18:33:00.002+01:00

"If you have a Union that stands up for you, then you should support them, I am proud my union is fighting to get us all a fair wage. Of course I am concerned with the increasing cost of living, maybe 2.45% is ok if you are on £60,000 but it is nothing if you are on £15,000! I am worried for the winter, how am I going to sleep at night if I can’t afford to put on the heating!”
Julie is a security collection officer

Kofi - UNISON member on Strike

2008-07-17T18:28:00.003+01:00

"UNISON is here for me and I am here for my Union. I am struggling like everyone else to cope with the increase cost of living. We must get a decent wage that is why I am on strike today."
Kofi is a Civil Enforcement Officer (Parking Attendant)

Dan - UNISON member on Strike

2008-07-17T18:23:00.005+01:00

"I’m here because I can’t afford not to be. Every day is a struggle I have a young child but I can’t afford not to back my Union when it asked me to strike for a fair wage.
Its about doing the right thing……………I can’t afford to keep taking pay cuts!"
On a serious note. I would like to add that While i couldn't afford the strike i new that it was the right thing to do. Every day I struggle with the latest bills. While this strike will have an impact on my pocket over the next month, I ask the ones that did decide to cross the picket line this. "are you prepared to continue to struggle over the next 3 years"? As inflation increases our pockets are set to only get lighter. Life will always be a struggle when it comes to money. Enless you get lucky, It does not mean that you have to stuggle to the point that you have nothing at the end of it. Lets back our union. Unison really proved to me yesterday that my montly payment was worth every penny. To everyone that striked- "Our loss of 2 days pay will hurt us at different levels, Some may be worse off than others, all i can say is this. Its been worth it and i hope the ones that crossed the picket line will look up to us and maybe join us next time.
Daniel Stringer
Dan is a Refuse Loader Driver working for Barnet Council.

UNISON Calling...................!

2008-07-13T15:27:00.005+01:00

Dear Colleagues

On the 16, 17 July it is important that each and every UNISON member working for the Council supports the strike action.

This is a crucial moment for local government pay negotiations. For the past eight years YOUR Pay has consistently fallen below inflation, if we don’t make a stand now we will have another 3 years of Pay cuts.

Some members have asked why 2.45% Pay Offer when it is widely know the National Employers have budgeted for a 2.5% Award. The answer is simple, the National Employer is looking to squeeze every single drop out of the workforce.

Be clear, every member who crosses the Picket Line will be recorded in the Government Statistics as a supporter of the National Employers and more importantly as supporting the 2.45% Pay Offer.

Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, remember the Pension Strike?

If we had not taken action it is highly unlikely we would still have a Final Salary Pension.

On Wednesday evening everyone will be looking for the press reports on the BBC.

Make sure you are part of the news by supporting the strike and joining the march in central London.

We have a branch meeting on

Tuesday 15 July at 12.30 in room 6, Building 2 NLBP.

Come along with a friend or colleague to hear what you can do

John Burgess
Branch Secretary

IT YOU HAVE PROBLEMS VIEWING THIS FLYER DOUBLE CLICK ON IT

OR GO TO

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3927695/Make-Brown-unhappy

Support the Strike for Fair Pay

2008-07-08T08:25:00.003+01:00

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS VIEWING THIS POSTER,

SIMPLY DOUBLE CLICK ON THE POSTER

Supporting the Strike Action on 16 , 17 July

2008-07-08T08:16:00.001+01:00

IF YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY READING THIS POSTER DOUBLE CLICK ON IT

Barnet UNISON Newsletters..........read on!

2008-06-28T17:32:00.003+01:00

The pace of change is frightening ...........read on at the following links.......

Barnet UNISON Newsletter STRIKE edition
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3683611/Barnet-UNISON-Voice-27-June-2008PDF-Version

Barnet UNISON newsletter 26 June 2008
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3670995/Barnet-UNISON-Voice-26-June-2008PDF-version

Have they no shame? - London MP's get 7% pay rise
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23499403-details/London+MPs+pay+bonanza/article.do

Future Shape Barnet Council – Don’t panic…don’t panic……..
http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2008/06/dont-panicdont-panicbarnet-unison.html

Super Council worker
http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2008/06/super-hero-super-councilworker-descends.html

Super Hero - Super Councilworker descends on Barnet Council!

2008-06-28T16:24:00.003+01:00

Super Council worker has heard about the threat to our members livelihoods, he has heard about our top class reputation of public services…..he knows Barnet Council workers over the last five years have lost work colleagues through redundancies, taken on more work, not had a pay rise, yet still find the energy and professionalism to provide an excellent service to the community.

When I first spoke to him he was at first confused, then angry that staff should find themselves facing ‘Privatisation world !’, so soon after achieving Four Star status for Barnet Council.

‘Privatisation world' is no Disney adventure for the staff and it certainly does not deliver value for money for local tax payers and service users! We only have to look at our former Council colleagues who were handed over to Fremantle to see what can await those services privatised!

Check out what they are having to deal with!

http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2008/06/fremantle-care-workers-why-they-keep-on.html

http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2008/06/maggi-myland-social-services-convenor.html

http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2008/06/fremantle-convenor-i-am-open-door.html

Fear not Barnet UNISON members Super Council worker has agreed to personally intervene……….where and when I can not divulge…….however look out for his symbol…………..

“DON’T PANIC……DON’T PANIC…..Barnet UNISON members!”

2008-06-28T15:56:00.007+01:00

Don't Panic......sounds easy when he says it........

On Monday 30 June I begin the process of consulting with as many members as possible over ‘The Future Shape of Barnet Council’.

Over the coming months I will be setting up meetings across workplaces to listen to members concerns and suggestions.

It is important that I make it clear the Barnet UNISON is committed to defending keeping public services under democratic control. Our position is consistent with our National UNISON’s Positively Public campaign

You can view UNISON’s response here
http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/17070.pdf

View a short video on ‘Making Local Services count’
http://www.unison.org.uk/video/video.asp?did=6673

In the next few weeks members will be receiving a short questionnaire. I need to understand where members are in terms of the consultation. There has been an awful lot of jargon about what ‘The Future Shape means, so it is understandable members may choose to ignore or pay scant attention to the consultation process.

This would be a dangerous position to take, and it is why I want to speak to as many members as possible. You work for the Council, you know your service
If the penny has not dropped yet…all Council Services could be facing privatisation within 3 years!

Check out this story on the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/regions/west/7468995.stm

In less than six months time a proposal will be submitted to the Council’s Cabinet Committee (3 December 2008)

So make sure you find time to come along to one of our meetings, if you want to ask a question please email me at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Make sure you complete the questionnaire!

Stop the Fascist BNP - Barnet UNISON

2008-06-22T15:52:00.006+01:00

Fighting against an unpredictable swirling wind, me and Branch Secretary John Burgess somehow managed to carry the massive Barnet UNISON banner all the way from Tower Bridge to Trafalgar Square on Saturday. We were on a national march and parade against fascism and racism organised by the groups ‘Unite Against Fascism’ and ‘Love Music Hate Racism.’ The prime focus of the march was to raise protest against the British National Party and their recent relative success in gaining a seat in the Greater London Assembly, polling a worrying 5.33% of the overall London vote last May. We estimate that between 10-15,000 people took part in the march, and the array of banners from different unions across the country shows not only that there is a real shared concern over the rise of the BNP, but also brings hope that there is the strength in numbers and will power to stop them. There was even a banner all the way from Glasgow UNISON branch! Spurred on by music and chants from various rap artists and drum bands, the march itself had a positive atmosphere, with people from all ages and races joining in as the march gathered pace.

So why does Barnet UNISON feel it necessary to represent their opposition to the BNP?

The most common accusation levelled against the BNP is that their support base consists largely of violent racists. The sort of people you would not want to meet walking the streets at night, especially if you are not white! Stories were told to us at the climax of the march of a girl who had set up an anti-racist group in her university. She was followed home and harassed one night by two white men identifying themselves as BNP supporters. Nick Griffen, leader of the BNP, is facing charges of incitement of religious hatred. UNISON opposes racism, sexism and homophobia, and strives for equality of treatment in the workplace and in society. The BNP argues that an anti-immigration policy does not make them racist, but looking at certain sections of their support base it is evident that there is a dark racist undertone to their existence.

The corner-stone of the BNP’s ideology is routed in a belief that society’s problems come from differences in race and culture, and that we are already seeing the beginning of what Enoch Powell famously pronounced in 1968 as ‘rivers of blood.’ Nick Griffen predicts that in the next three years, as the economy takes a downturn, we will see ‘peace walls’ constructed between ethnic communities within towns, as the point of frustration between whites and the non-whites reaches tipping point. UNISON opposes this ideology in its entirety. The success and diversity shown at Saturdays march only goes to show that London is a tolerant multi-cultural city, that is all the better for it both socially and economically. Instead the route of society’s problems comes from a lack of true equality of opportunity. Poverty and a growing sense of inequality in a more neo-liberal profit driven society leads people to crime and increases job insecurity. This is why Barnet UNISON is fighting for public sector service, and is vehemently opposed to the BNP’s racial arguments.

Under the BNP Britain would be a fascist based society. The party proposes to halt immigration full stop, and then send all those who are not in their terms ‘indigenous’ to Britain back to their ethnic countries. Such a policy is comparable to the likes of Hitler’s Nazi party and their extermination of the Jews, Poles and Socialists. Certain sections of the BNP publicly deny the holocaust’s existence, dreaming that it was a socialist conspiracy! Fascism requires seizing unqualified amounts of central power, and this would inevitably result in the destruction of trade unions as layer by layer of citizen protection is peeled back. This would be the only way the BNP could ever achieve its proclaimed goals. UNISON will fight for its survival and the right of workers to assemble into a trade union. Parties advocating fascist means are natural enemies of trade unions.

For the first time ever the BNP stood a candidate in Barnet in the May elections. They received around 120 votes. They have promised to stand again in the European Parliament elections next year. We must make sure that Barnet is kept clean from both the sort of racism that goes along with the BNP and the dangerous, divisive way of thinking in its policies and political means.

Ben Ritchie

Lango meet Dave, Heather and Jean at UNISON Conference

2008-06-22T15:30:00.002+01:00

Last week Lango managed to meet up with UNISON’s General Secretary Dave Prentis and the National Secretary Heather Wakefield. Both Dave and Heather gave a commitment to come down and meet Fremantle Care workers on the picket lines. Jean Geldart former Tower Hamlets Branch Secretary and Service Group Executive member for Local Government said Lango and the Fremantle Care workers were an inspiration to UNISON members across the country and promised full support with the campaign.

Maggi Myland reports back on re-grading in Learning Difficulties Services

2008-06-22T15:15:00.004+01:00

‘Modernising’ of In-House Service for Adults with Learning Disabilities.

What started as a relatively small number of staff at a Day Centre with queries about their pay scales /grades and discrepancies amongst staff doing the same tasks at different pay scales ; mushroomed into a total re-structure (modernization) of the whole Service including residential, respite, supported living and community support provisions. This will have implications for some 300 staff including ‘As and When’

Over several months, Barnet UNISON and GMB have worked collaboratively with Management and HR colleagues to Job Evaluate all the new Role Profiles.
We are happy to report that this complex process is nearly completed.
However there are more formal Council procedures involved; there is a DPR [Delegated Powers report] to be signed off and then those staff who remain in their substantive posts will be getting confirmation of their Scale points etc. Other members of staff that have been ring –fenced and have to be interviewed for their new posts will follow and then finally there will be adverts for those remaining unfilled posts in the new structure.

Eventually all the staff involved will be getting their new contracts and perhaps more importantly their new pay rates just as soon as all the necessary processes are completed.

Hopefully staff will feel that the unavoidable time delays have been worthwhile and Barnet has an In-House Service for vulnerable adults that is more streamlined, creative and rewarding to be a part of.

University student starts two month placement with Barnet UNISON

2008-06-22T15:12:00.002+01:00

Hello,
My name is Ben Ritchie and I will be working with Barnet UNISON during the summer on a number of projects. I am a student studying law and politics in my second year at Cardiff University, and want to use my summer to gain an insight into the work of trade unions. In todays increasingly globalised and profit driven society, where jobs are more insecure than ever before, it is fundamental that trade unions such as UNISON protect vulnerable employees and public services. Maintaining and expanding membership is a priority in order to be listened to, and I will be researching and reporting into ways trade unions can engage their younger members. I will also be devising a presentation ready to take into secondary schools to raise student awareness of the practicality of joining trade unions once they leave school. Besides from this I will also be assisting around the office, taking calls, and looking at improving communication with our members.
My time at Barnet Unison looks set to be challenging and exciting!

Barnet UNISON Branch Secretary a stalking horse in the next US Presidential election 2008 ?

2008-06-20T21:40:00.002+01:00

Move over Obama....move over McCain

Incredible but seeing is believing..............readers will remember a story linking the Branch Secretary with George Bush last year
http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2007/08/national-pay-branch-secretary-second.html

But this latest sensational scoop demands answers!
http://www.news3online.com/index.php?code=3S2Oo13Ls650ECT718sR

Life Long Learning Coordinator Susan Timthong reports....

2008-06-20T16:46:00.006+01:00

I am excited and happy to inform you all that as from the 5th June, I became a full-time Lifelong Learning Coordinator after the retirement of my former Job-share Carmen Bruno. Carmen worked for 3 years as a part-time learning Coordinator, with the assistance of Barnet UNISON she helped organise the setting up of Return2Learn and training of more than 400 staff throughout Environmental, Customer Care services. I will miss working with Carmen, I have learnt a lot from her and I wish her a very happy retirement.

This is a very exciting and challenging opportunity for me to continue to promote and provide learning opportunities for staff and also create new ones. If you were at NLBP,
Mill Hill Depot or Barnet House during Learner Week ( 19th May-22nd May) you will have seen me promoting courses and giving away freebies in the Atrium and on the CONEL Interactive Bus at NLBP, on the Rolling Base Bus at Mill Hill Depot and in the UNISON Office at Barnet House. It was good to see these events supported by Managers and staff alike.

At the moment I am in the process of setting up our next Communication Skills and ICT courses which will start on the 24th and 25th of June and run one day a week for five weeks. The communication Skills course will run on a Tuesday and the ICT course will run on a Wednesday, both will be taught a Mill Hill Depot. There is still time if you would like to attend one of these courses, call me on 0208 359 5175/07950209900/ or email me at s.timthong@barnetunison.org.uk or susan.timthong@barnet.gov.uk

During the school summer holiday I will be running courses for coach escorts and schools catering staff.

From September onwards we will be providing more Communication Skills and ITC courses to include school staff, progression for staff that have taken a course and would like to achieve a higher level and also English language courses for staff. Future Communication Skills course content can be designed and tailored to meet the requirements of a Service Area. Moreover, there should also be opportunities to vary the venue and timing of courses subject to a minimum number of attendees. For more information please contact me on the above numbers/email addresses or if you see me at NLBP or Mill Hill Depot stop me and ask me. I’m always available (subject to limitations; I like to eat and drink and sleep at times, and yes, I’ve got home responsibilities too which means I do spend some time at home or in Tesco’s)

Well, my final word is don’t put off today what you can do tomorrow because tomorrow you might miss out on a great opportunity.

Susan Timthong
Lifelong Learning Coordinator

Nursery Nurse Campaign – Get in Touch!

2008-06-20T16:40:00.003+01:00

I was overwhelmed as to how many Nursery Nurses came to the meeting on May 15th 2008. All volunteering to help progress the Nursery Nurse re-grading campaign.

We discussed the work done by Barnet UNISON so far: the research we have done into your role, the impact of The Early Years Foundation Stage on your job content and responsibilities. The volunteers have added to it. They were as alarmed as myself to the lack of understanding and recognition about your job role by HR and senior management, As a result of the background work we have done a more favourable Job Description has been drawn up and has been circulated to those present at the meeting for consultation.

Should you get a call from a Nursery Nurse from another school, please call them back as it is one of the volunteers who is adopting your school to help with the campaign. Their work and support will be crucial, especially if we have to take strike action next term to get a fair deal for you.

There is progress but then there is London Borough of Barnet progress! Now we are organized, no more delays, no more stalling! As a Nursery Nurse or organising steward, should you want to get involved in the fair deal for nursery nurses campaign forward your details including email addresses and mobile no. to me at The Nursery Nurse Campaign,
UNISON Office, Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP, or email us on contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Susan Dunning

Schools staff - Increments did you get yours.......?

2008-06-20T16:37:00.003+01:00

Over the last few years it has been clear that there needs to be greater transparency in terms of pay for support staff in schools.

Quite often staff confuse grades and increments.

For the purposes of this exercise the grade for this member of staff is spinal column point (also known as an increment) 10 to 13. This member of staff was appointed at SCP 10. Each April she moves up an increment until she reaches the top of her grade. In this case it is SCP 13.

I have heard too many cases of staff remaining on their increment and not moving up through their grade. We want to make sure that every one of our members is receiving the correct pay for the work they are doing.

Please check what your grade is. If you don’t know write to your Head for a copy of your contract. If that doesn’t work, please contact the UNISON office on 020 8 359 2088/2090 and ask to speak to Susan Dunning or Tracey Lowe our UNISON officers for schools or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Maggi Myland Social Services Convenor reports from Conference...

2008-06-20T16:33:00.004+01:00

Sandra Jones,First time delegate to UNISON Local Govt. Conference, representing all the Fremantle ex-Council staff in the Barnet homes.

Quite early on first day of LG Conference, Sunday 15th June, there was a motion about efficiency, cuts and Privatisation. Sandra stood in front of that vast conference hall and spoke about the detrimental effects on the workforce of being outsourced (privatised) by Barnet Council TUPE to Fremantle Trust, a ‘not–for-profit charity’. Workers terms & conditions being drastically slashed; some staff having to take on additional jobs to maintain their family’s life style. She spoke of members already having participated in 5 days of Industrial Action and still this charitable employer will not concede. Sandra told Conference that the Fremantle staff are still fighting for their terms & conditions to be reinstated and asked for support from National, Regional and Branches of UNISON.

At the lunchtime fringe meeting entitled Individual Budgets & Social Care, after the main debate and speakers from Scotland; Sandra again addressed the meeting and spoke emotionally regarding her career in care of the elderly and that there would always be some vulnerable clients who need residential and Day Care.

Susan Dunning Assistant Branch Secretary reports from conference...

2008-06-20T16:28:00.002+01:00

I could have spent the whole of my life trying to explain the poor terms and conditions that support staff in school have to work under. It very difficult to convey how oppressive working in schools can be. At the UNISON Local Government Conference the situation was summed up by Paul Holmes the Branch Secretary for Kirklees Council.

“Here at Kirklees UNISON Branch, we don’t refer to education; we don’t call it education anymore. We call the department for people working as support staff in schools as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Department”

Needless to say the crowd went wild. Immediately I thought of all the evil frosty queens who we work for, who if they had the power to turn us to stone they would.

Paul went on to elaborate “the reason why we call it the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Department is because we are tired of hearing - I can’t speak any louder I’m calling you from a cupboard!” How true. I cannot count the number of similar conversations I have had over the short period I’ve worked for UNISON and the delegates not working in schools were genuinely shocked that this was the case.

Time and time again support staff are subsidising the schools they work for with unpaid overtime. Taking pay cuts through reduced hours, but often having to work the original hours otherwise, " it’s the children who will loose out”. The latest situation in schools to hit the headlines is that teaching assistants are being used as unpaid teachers. If you are qualified and appointed at grade 3 under certain circumstances you can do more, if you are grade 4 you can take on more of a teaching role. Outside of these grades you must not. We know it goes on. We know that heads ask this of level 2 staff but they refuse to appoint them at level 3 despite being qualified and the same with staff at level 3 who are qualified and should be appointed at level 4 or HLTA status. We also know heads will deny it.

Many feel that their job security is based on the whim of the head teacher and are afraid to speak out. Though humorous Paul Holmes was bang on the money in describing the lot of many support staff in schools. There are good heads out there, but it’s the bad ones who stand out and bring the standards down.

If this resonates with you Barnet UNISON wants to hear from you, so call us on 020 8 359 2088 0r email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Susan Dunning.

Tracey Lowe Assistant Branch Secretary reports from Conference

2008-06-20T16:26:00.003+01:00

As a delegate at this year’s conference it has been inspiring to see the overwhelming support of brother and sister trade unionists across the country for the Fremantle campaign. For me this is what being a trade union activist is all about: standing together to fight for the rights of our members. I would encourage you all to draw strength from the knowledge you have the support in your struggle to regain your terms and conditions from UNISON members all over the country.

Helen Davies Branch Chair reports from Conference

2008-06-20T16:22:00.003+01:00

I have been so inspired at the way our delegates to both conferences have been able to argue the case for support for Fremantle workers. Our Fremantle reps have addressed Local Government Conference and National Conference on 3 occasions. They have spoken at meetings for women members, disabled members, black members and various Fringe meetings around the conferences. Each time the case has been put and each time people have responded passionately and warmly to our request for help. Everyone feels the injustice and it is clear Fremantle has become a word meaning meanness and worst practice to workers. The Fremantle campaign means a fight for all working people and this has been understood. Show your support for continuing the fightback. Everyone is watching you and willing you on to success.

Fremantle Convenor...." I open the door.......

2008-06-20T16:15:00.006+01:00

"I open the door and the first thing I see is an old person I care for. They look at me and all they want is a smile. And I wonder, can I afford a smile or shall I keep worrying about my bills?” (Lango Gamanga Fremantle Convenor).
Conference has been an eye opener for me. It has been very supportive. The conference brings together UNISON members from all different backgrounds (Health, Local Government, Higher Education etc). I shared with them the experience we have with our employer, Fremantle Trust and they empathise and are willing to support our campaign. We have support from the President and General Secretary of our union and I asked them all to support our campaign to get back our terms and conditions; to put back a smile on the faces of Fremantle workers to we can put back a smile on our residents’ faces – the vulnerable older adults we work with. Each time I shared our experience we had a standing ovation and donations of money. We have had delegates from all over the country pledging financial support and making requests for speakers. Do not hesitate to contact our branch with your own financial difficulties.
Times have been very difficult for us let’s continue the fight for better working conditions and know we have the support nationally of 1,000s of UNISON members.

Lango Gamanga

Standing ovations for Fremantle Care worker UNISON reps

2008-06-20T14:54:00.008+01:00

Here are but a few pictures of our Fremantle care workers reps at Conference this week

National March against Fascism and Racism

2008-06-10T23:01:00.006+01:00

All members please note the folllowing link

http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=80521

For the first time for over 20 years the BNP stood a candidate in the London Borough of Barnet. We now have a BNP GLA candidate( he did not get elected but has announced he will stand at the next elections). It is important that despite their attempts to re-brand themselves, the BNP must be exposed for the politics of hate and division.

Barnet UNISON will be sending the banner down to the march/carnival on 21 June 2008

"March and carnival parade against fascism and racism including floats with top artists performing, marching & samba bands and trade union & student union banners.Saturday 21st June 2008Assemble: 12 noon, Tooley Street, London SE1(behind Greater London Assembly building, near Tower Bridge, nearest underground stn London Bridge).

March to Trafalgar Square, W1"

Please circulate details for the event and come along, bring your families and friends and look out for the Barnet UNISON banner

Future Shape of Barnet Council -UNISON Conference

2008-06-09T10:49:00.003+01:00

I have mentioned in previous BLOG posts the challenges facing members of UNISON Somerset County Branch. Next week is the start of UNISON National Conference, this is a motion submitted by Somerset UNISON branch

NATIONAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE 2008
DRAFT COMPOSITE A STRATEGIC SERVICE DELIVERY PARTNERSHIPS/SHARED SERVICES [Motions 28 and 29, Amendments 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, 28.4, 29.1]
Conference notes that the government is promoting Strategic Service-delivery Partnerships (SSP), Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in local government. We are concerned that these policies will have a detrimental impact on our members' terms and conditions of employment. The roll out of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health legislation may accelerate these public/private ventures. Conference further notes that changes at local delivery level have the potential to affect more than local government services and members. Health, police and transport authorities are expected to be drawn into local strategic partnerships.

We note there is little evidence that they are more efficient or accountable than directly delivered local government services. We further note the failure of partnerships within the private sector in Bedfordshire and West Berkshire resulted in the "partnered out" services being transferred back to the local authority with huge financial penalties being incurred by the local authority.

One major development in the South West in the course of 2007 has been the creation of a 'joint venture company' (JVC) by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and the business and technology company IBM – Avon and Somerset Police are expected to join up in January 2008. This is a strategic service delivery partnership (SSP). It has been named Southwest One. An intention of Southwest One is to offer 'back office' services to other authorities and organisations in the region.

The creation of a framework agreement has created further concerns. 35 public bodies have signed the framework agreement. We are appalled that the agreement can lead to jobs being exported from other public bodies to the JVC without following the procurement and options appraisals and may reduce union involvement in shaping service delivery.

The scope for change in how services are shaped and delivered, offered for example by the creation of the new unitary councils, the working of Local Strategic Partnerships and by the emerging range of SSPs across the country, that may be considered as models by councils, is considerable. It has been reported that a consortia of London Boroughs approached the DCLG about how to achieve efficiencies savings. The DCLG referred them to Southwest One.

UNISON has expressed reservations about the establishment of full partnerships of councils and private companies to develop services, rather than say by fostering shared services between authorities themselves (eg public-public partnerships). Conference notes the lack of evidence to demonstrate that Strategic Service Delivery Partnerships actually benefit service users, the workforce or elected councillors.

Most importantly, UNISON believes that policies and mechanisms must ensure that savings that result from administrative improvements are reinvested in front line services.

UNISON is concerned that overarching partnerships with private companies raise major conflicts with the community culture of local government, for example:

1) local democracy may be compromised;
2) public access to financial information about services may be in conflict with commercial confidentiality;
3) longer term costs are uncertain and out of the control of authorities;
4) staff expertise and commitment may be undermined;
5) commercialised local services may lose their community face;
6) regionalisation may foster growth in the need to travel;
7) likely impact on employment in services and loss of local employment;
8) profits being set aside from public funds and moved away from the local economy;
9) services tending to businesses that only serve those who can afford to pay.

We welcome the fact that branches have accumulated a great deal of experience of the issues that arise and are using the services of organisations such as the European Services Strategy Unit (continuing the work of the Centre for Public Services) who conduct thorough analysis and research on behalf of trade unions and local authorities. The European Services Strategy Unit is documenting the story of Southwest One and is identifying recommendations and other branches have similarly commissioned consultants to challenge outsourcing exercises.

UNISON nationally has commissioned APSE to carry out research to help the union meet the ongoing challenges posed by public service reform across the UK and to promote directly provided services. This project has examined 17 branches involved in major outsourcing across the UK and across sectors. In addition UNISON is reviewing and updating all branch advice on outsourcing and is developing new materials and training courses.

We believe that the continued approach of the government in encouraging outsourcing, privatisation and "partnership working" is detrimental to democracy and accountability within public services.

We believe the increased use of markets, private providers and competition in public services (policies all three main parties appear to support) is alien to the needs of the vast majority of society and gives large corporations extended profits and control.

We oppose the use of commissioning in public services and note with concern that the government is expecting local authorities (and the health service) to commission rather than be direct service providers.

We are committed to the Positively Public Campaign and we believe that "partnering out" is contrary to our own policies.

Conference notes that the issue of shared services has moved up the political agenda but that the union has been slow to provide advice to branches on dealing with this in all its aspects. Conference requests that appropriate advice and training are made available ideally within two months of conference but also that the National Executive Council examines how communications can be improved, so that important issues that are starting to be evident at branch level can be fed back to the national union to ensure that advice and resources are available.

Conference calls on the National Executive Council to:

a) encourage public employers to include participation and information access protocols that ensure transparency, in their procurement options appraisal and policies;
b) continue to develop up to date national, regional and branch information, advice and guidance on the challenging of all new kinds of outsourcing mechanisms and to campaign against all forms of privatisation;
c) develop cross-service strategies to oppose public private partnerships;
d) develop regional and cross-regional strategies to challenge public private partnerships and other outsourcing mechanisms;
e) develop strategies to protect and support members and new starters who are affected by outsourcing;
f) support and advise branches to win in-house provision of services
g) encourage regions and branches to work with supporting organisations such as the European Services Strategy Unit and APSE as part of an overall strategic approach to challenging all forms of outsourcing
h) take this matter forward using the political funds where necessary and call on the part of UNISON known as UNISON Labour Link to campaign against the government’s privatisation and marketisation agenda;
i) campaign amongst all progressive organisations (trade unions, tenants groups, TUC, councillors and MPs) to bring about a reversal of this current government's "direction of travel" in respect of Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Strategic Service Delivery Partnerships (SSP);
j) report back at the next conference the progress made in the matters raised above;

28 South West Region
28.1 North Cornwall LG
28.2 Scotland Region
28.3 National Executive Council
28.4 Somerset County
29 Somerset County
29.1 National Executive Council

Amendment A.1 (Amendment 28.5)
Insert new point i)

i) call on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee to launch a formal investigation to assess the performance of Strategy Service Delivery Partnerships;
28.5 Somerset County

Further motions include http://www.somersetcountyunison.org/pdf/Conference/2008SSDPsNDC.pdf

http://www.somersetcountyunison.org/pdf/Conference/2008LGSESSDPsforLG.pdf

Future Shape consultation four weeks on…..

2008-06-08T17:32:00.007+01:00

Last Mondays meeting with Richard Grice (Programme Director) and Nick Walkley (Executive Director of Resources) was useful and provided an opportunity to ask questions about the process and the Trade Unions role over the coming months.

Clearly from the UNISON reports provided on our last BLOG post alternative privatisation models have presented significant issues which I hope that Barnet will avoid.

Whilst researching other Council’s experiences a number of key issues have emerged
“Transparency, Accountability, Governance, Employment” all of which will be subject to constant scrutiny from Barnet UNISON.

In –house model
I raised and will continue to raise the fact that the in-house model must be given equal consideration when exploring what and how the Council provides services. In the past in-house inexperience, lack of financial capacity have been used as an excuse to privatise services, Fremantle Care workers campaign is clear evidence of that flawed thinking.

More recently, in Barnet we have seen innovative thinking which has led to ‘Transformation of Service Delivery’ in Resources and Adult Social Services to name but a few examples. Accessing substantial financial investment and partnership working was surely a significant factor in Barnet achieving Four Star status. This ability to transform a service to a high performing service can not be understated and clear local evidence of the high calibre Barnet staff. An independent report by I&DeA entitled Getting better all of the time?

the Executive Summary, point 20 Workforce Development…..
“But significant sections of the local government workforce who are operating on the ‘frontline’ have felt embattled and undervalued. Such staff are vital to effective service delivery. Highly motivated and skilled workforces who are passionate and engaged about optimising customer service and user benefit are a hallmark of high performing organisations. To date capacity building in terms of workforce development has barely scratched the surface. There will need to be much more investment in training and developing the local workforce if transformational changes are really to be achieved.”

Whilst it is true to say that the future is constantly changing this is not a reason to play down the role of high performing in-house services. I will look to see this acknowledged in the consultation process and risk assessment identifying the degree of risk to the Council of losing local experience and expertise.

Employment issues
I took the opportunity to discuss why staff are anxious about the prospects of working for an organisation that would look to make savings out of their terms and conditions. It is not just in the wage packet that concerns staff, but their future Pension. Whilst it is true that the Pension Scheme has gone through some changes, it still is a good Pension Scheme. When an employer starts to erode the pay it has a fundamental impact on the Pension forcast (as Fremantle Care workers have found out). In the past staff transfers have not been robust enough to protect staff, which explains why staff are anxious about possible outcomes of this consultation.

It is my experience that but for an exception of a few senior managers the outcomes for staff transferring out of the Council are poor in relation to their terms and conditions. This will be a key area of scrutiny for UNISON.

Finances
In my meetings I have been repeatedly assured that this process is not simply as a result of finances. The test of this will be evidenced by what weighting finances is given for particular models put forward at the Cabinet Committee meeting on 3 December 2008. In discussions so far the reduced shortfall in government funding has been a key factor driving this consultation process. I will be asking that any proposals put forward will include an analysis of whether a change of Government (2010) will result an increase or a decrease in funding for Barnet Council.

Is it a done deal?
I am been reassured that this is not the case and the consultation is genuine. I can understand why staff may think this particularly if they have read the third paragraph in section 2.3.1 of the 6 May 2008 Cabinet report "Work is already been done in scoping development services, where potential for JVC has been identified."

For those of you coming into the consultation process JVC is not a reference to a multinational electrical company but Joint Venture Company. However a JVC could involve a partnership with a multinational company. Just look at the mess in Somerset County

Keep checking this BLOG for further updates

Fremantle care workers – why they keep on fighting

2008-06-07T16:24:00.016+01:00

It is 15 months since Fremantle stole their terms and conditions 1 April 2007 and almost 2 years since the Fremantle care workers campaign began. The Branch has conducted a high profile campaign (reaching a global audience thanks to the efforts of LabourStart) resulting in a successful march and rally in November and a well attended meeting in the House of Commons in December 2007.

Early in 2008 Fremantle care workers had a meeting for members to discuss the future of the campaign. The message from members was clear …..
“We want back what was stolen!”
The Fremantle Stewards Committee were mandated in the meeting to meet with Fremantle to try and reach a negotiated settlement.

Unfortunately Fremantle were very clear, they were not prepared to talk about what was stolen. They believe they have already made enough concessions. (their original proposals were to reduce the hourly rate and increase the working week to 39 hours a week instead of 36 along on top of what they stole from our members last year). In effect everything they gained from Single Status was to be removed at the stroke of a pen!

Following our meeting with Fremantle it was clear members needed to be consulted. The Fremantle Stewards Committee decided to carry out a consultative ballot in May. The ballot was simple. Fremantle said they were prepared to consider reducing the Pay Freeze from 3 years to 2 years (with strings attached). The second part of their offer was to give 3 days annual leave in October 2009 in line with Governments legislation to extend annual leave by 3 days.

The Fremantle Stewards Committee made a recommendation for members to reject this offer with the understanding that rejecting the offer would mean and escalation of strike action.

Fremantles' reaction was predictably aggressive, refusing access to the workplaces and sending their own ballot paper to staff..

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3194124/Fremantle-Trust-ballot-letter

“So, in spite of the actions of their employer why are our members so determined not to give up hope?”

Firstly, and it can not be understated the sheer loss in income our members have had to endure has proved devastating. Over the last twelve months the numbers of staff working 60 hours a week either for Fremantle or with a second and sometimes a third employer has increased. The introduction by Fremantle of a 56 hour ‘waiver’ is evidence of the scale of the problem. We are understandably concerned about the number of hours staff are working. However we do not know how widespread this practice is which is why we have written to Fremantle, unfortunately we have not had a reply.

"Care Workers working 56+ hours a week is it safe for staff and residents? "
Is it right that care staff should have to work 56 hours or more to earn a living wage in London? Who reading this can honestly say they would feel comfortable leaving their relative in a home where such practice were common? To be fair to Fremantle this problem is widespread across Social Care provision. As a social worker I can report that very few if any of my work colleagues would feel comfortable leaving a relative in residential care. Radio Four’s Jon Manel recently reported on care for the Elderly. The government last month launched a consultation on how to fund social care. Whatever is decided surely those who must carry out the direct provision of care to the most vulnerable must be well trained and receive a living wage. It is not politicians, commissioners, service providers (well not until they find themselves in a residential or nursing home) who pay the penalty for undermining the provision of social care it is the service users and carers.

It is not just the loss in pay that accounts for why our members do not want to give up hope. It is the knowledge that if they give up their struggle they know that their Pension forecast will drop permanently. Leaving them with the added worry of how they will cope when they retire. This is something Fremantle have not really understood, instead they take refuge behind mind games with our members, accusing the branch ‘of promoting its own views’.

Such poor analysis of this campaign does note bode well, particularly in the context of future challenges facing Fremantle in Barnet. We know that this contract has led to a dispute with Barnet Council. Last year the claim was £8.672 million as it has not been resolved the claim must surely have gone above £10 million. Only three of the planned five new homes have been built. Whatever is going on behind closed doors what is certain is that the contract will surely be re-negotiated. Will the new contract bring an increase in funding for Fremantle? If not will Fremantle come back to our members for more?

No wonder our members are angry and don’t want to give up. UNISON policy is quite clear, organise to resist privatisation and defend our members against attacks on their terms and conditions. Barnet UNISON stands proudly with our member working for Fremantle and will continue to do so as long as they need our help.

John Burgess
Branch Secretary

Barnet UNISON Newsletter 3 June 2008

2008-06-03T18:53:00.001+01:00

For Online version of Barnet UNISON voice June 2008
please go to
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3218725/Barnet-UNISON-Voice-June-2008PDF-VERSION

UNISON Update on Library Re-organisation

2008-06-03T18:42:00.001+01:00

Dear Members
I am sure that you are wondering and worrying about what is happening with the library re-organisation. Unfortunately I have nothing concrete as yet to tell you. The last meeting that UNISON had with senior management was on 24 April where we were told that nothing was to be ruled out with regards to where the necessary savings could be made. We were also informed that a massive six figure staffing budget overspend had been identified and that this was the reason that more posts were likely to be affected by the re-organisation than previously anticipated. UNISON has asked for further detail on the exact figures of the overspend and how this has gone unnoticed and been allowed to happen.

Some of you may well be thinking that if the original proposal put forward by management had gone through and had not been objected to by UNISON members that all would be well, in place and remaining jobs would be safe. Please don’t be fooled into thinking that – we do not believe that your jobs would have been any safer. With such a huge staffing overspend it would have to come to light sooner or later and if not now it would probably have been lumped into the pot under the guise of the annual budget cuts that happen every year around Christmas.

We will have the new proposals soon and now that the overspend has been identified we can hope for an honest and transparent dialogue into the financial implications for the future of our members jobs and our service.

Until UNISON sees the new proposals we are unable to say whether we could recommend acceptance or not, however it remains our position to oppose cuts to frontline jobs. As soon as we hear anything we will inform members as soon as possible. If you have any queries please contact Sue on 8359 2091or Tracey on 8359 2088.
Tracey Lowe - 27 May 08

Individualised Budgets – the UNISON story week 3.

2008-06-03T18:36:00.004+01:00

At last UNISON has been given dedicated facility time to deal with this issue as it is of huge importance to so many of our members (and the community as a whole). This facility time began 22.5.08 and we have 2 days/ week.

Already quite a lot has taken place in these 3 weeks. I meet on a weekly basis with Ed Gowan, the project manager, where we discuss where we’re at and the issues being raised. We have managed to establish what I believe is a positive and constructive working relationship such that we can be clear and honest about the problems.

UNISON members in Older Adults made their concerns known, already in the first week of me taking up this role, at a UNISON lunchtime meeting where anger boiled over. New job descriptions and roles are being developed alongside existing ones and not surprisingly members are comparing these and noticing significant discrepancies which is leading to demands for regrading on all current roles. Colleagues there are not prepared to have current care brokers shadowing them until they can get reassurances their own posts are not at risk i.e. care brokers are not going to be used to undermine the need for social workers in Adults teams. UNISON has already approached the management team for a statement regarding this which should be coming out imminently (if it is not already out). We have already indicated the need for reviewing the grades and job evaluations of workers in this service area in relation to the care broker job description.

Similarly at a meeting with care brokers frustration was expressed by them at not being able to work to their job description. They believe they are being under used. They had applied for their jobs with the understanding they would be providing a direct service to service users. So far this has not materialised. Mencap is providing the care brokerage service for the pilot in Barnet. Our care brokers are frustrated they have not been invited to shadow this, nor are they being asked to do any of the work coming from the pilot.

It seems that the information on progress and where the restructuring is going is patchy when it filters down the ranks (as it were). Everyone seems to have a different idea on what is going on. This is exemplified by the way in which at the UNISON meeting with Older Adults people were wondering how Leo Boland’s comments on the Future Shape of the Council fit in with the Individualised Budgets project. On the whole people are tending to see privatisation written all over it.

UNISON is unable to allay those fears. However, the Individualised Budgets project is in and of itself not a tool to deliver privatisation although it is easy to see how this may happen. On the union side we will be continuing to argue that for reasons of good quality, accountability and better workforce employment conditions services should be delivered in-house. Where we are unable to maintain this position we will be trying to get the best deal possible for our members.

I have also spent some time contacting UNISON reps in the 13 local authorities which have been piloting The Individualised Budgets Scheme. Generally I am told the pilot scheme has worked well although there are no official reports. There are concerns how in-house services will be affected e.g. home care and day services. In Manchester the care brokerage service is being run by in-house staff who help service users set up care once they have their direct payment.

We believe there has to be coherence in the information (at least) in order not to alienate the workforce right from the start. One role the union can play is contributing to this coherence. We also need for colleagues to let us know what they think, state their concerns, wishes and also where you see things developing in a positive way in order to get to grips with what is going on. If we are deluged with requests/ comments etc then so be it. It is possible we will be unable to deal with every single point but they would be valued as I think they would contribute to a greater understanding of where we’re at and what questions need to be answered. I look forward to hearing from you.

In addition I will be organising meetings with other groups throughout Adult Social Services.

You can also approach: Tom Mahoney, Liz Thomasson, Maggie Guy and Peter Wright.

Helen Davies: helen.davies@barnetunison.org.uk

Pay Matters Ready Reckoner TRY IT OUT!

2008-06-03T00:17:00.003+01:00

All you need to do is fill in the highlighted purple section press 'return' key and it will calculate the yearly increase based on 2.45% pay cut.
You will need to scroll along at the bottom to see all relevant sections

Future Shape of Barnet Council - Week three........

2008-06-01T20:01:00.004+01:00

Last week (Richard Gryce) took up the post of Programme Director looking at the possible options for Barnet Council Services. I have a meeting with Richard and Nick Walkley on 2 June 2008. It is clear from the feedback on the Online Forum that there are a number of concerns which need closer scrutiny such as pay, pensions, job security. I have begun to look at where Councils have adopted some of the possible options raised in the Cabinet Paper 6 May 2008.

For those of you with access to PC’s here are a number of reports in the following Councils

Bedfordshire
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/publications/public-bodies/strategic-service-delivery-partnerships/strategic-partnership-in-crisis/hbs-beds-report-2.pdf

http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/outsourcing-library/contract-and-privatisation-failures/strategic-partnership-terminated-by-bedfordshi/beds-hbs-settlement.pdf

Oldham
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/publications/public-bodies/strategic-service-delivery-partnerships/oldham-strategic-service-delivery-partnership/oldham-ssdp-exec-sum.pdf

Salford
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/publications/public-bodies/strategic-service-delivery-partnerships/social-economic-and-environmental-audit-of-sal/salford-audit.pdf

Somerset
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/publications/public-bodies/strategic-service-delivery-partnerships/somerset-isis-or-crisis-an-assessment-of-the-p/somerset-isis-report.pdf

http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/publications/public-bodies/strategic-service-delivery-partnerships/the-flawed-options-appraisal-and-outline-busin/somerset-unison-report2.pdf

http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/southwest-one-lessons/southwest-one-final.pdf

West Berkshire
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/outsourcing-library/contract-and-privatisation-failures/west-berkshire-terminates-strategic-partnershi/west-berks-settlement.pdf

I noted a number of staff have made comments about jargon and the need for “plain English” in relation to the Cabinet report. Over the coming months I hope to address some of these issues (looking at the clock ticking on the Barnet UNISON BLOG it is worrying to see we are only184 Days, 10 Hours, 40 Minutes, 05 Seconds….. to go before the Chief Executive presents his report to the Cabinet Committee on 3 December 2008
(make a note in your diaries for this date; I hope to see some of you!)

Let’s start with Strategic Delivery Partnerships (SSP’s)

The Government are pushing these Partnerships in the Public Sector. A key document to read is the Audit Commissions “Strategic Service Delivery Partnerships "For Better or Worse”

see link
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/NATIONAL-REPORT/2EC60F18-BDC2-4faf-98AC-2E495B8B6CBD/ForBetterOrWorseJan08REP.pdf

“Not all SSPs will achieve the benefits sought. Similar collaborative arrangements in the private sector have a failure rate estimated to be as high as 60 to 70 per cent …..”(a quote from the above report)

Now read a critique by Professor Dexter Whitfield. As you can see from his website Dexter is regularly commissioned by UNISON branches. Our branch is considering commissioning Dexter read his comments on the Audit Commissions report
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/publications/public-bodies/strategic-service-delivery-partnerships/ppp-research-critique/ssp-audit-com-critique.doc

I expect that staff will be interested in this report……………….
What Frontline staff say about Strategic service Delivery Partnerships
http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/outsourcing-library/employment-impacts/what-frontline-staff-say-about-strategic-servi/unison-ssp-staff-survey.pdf

I can imagine that some may think that UNISON has already formed its view on this issue. That would be a fair comment. It is UNISON’s policy to support Public Services and organise against privatisation

UNISON is joining with the TUC to organise the Speak up for Public Services
lobby in Parliament on 9 June 2008 http://www.tuc.org.uk/theme/index.cfm?theme=speakup

If I find an example of a Joint Venture, Partnership, Privatisation, Arms Length Management Organisation which has not delivered attacks on our members Pay, Pensions and Employment I will publish it in our newsletters and eNEWS bulletins.

Privatisation
Fremantle care workers campaign is about to escalate after our members were balloted on an offer from Fremantle. As you can see for yourself it wasn’t much of an offer.
http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2008/06/fremantle-campaign-escalates.html
Would you have accepted it? Would you have expected your Union to support you?

ALMO’s
Looking over the numbers of staff who transferred from Barnet Housing department to the ALMO I was shocked to discover that 25% of the staff have gone! Some of them have been privatised and we are busy trying to help our member keep their terms and conditions. Our Lead UNISON rep in the ALMO is busy defending the terms & conditions Barnet Council staff take for granted!

Joint Venture Partnerships
There have been a number of these the one I want to draw member attention to is Somerset. I have been in touch with the Branch Secretary and will hopefully be inviting him to a branch meeting to discuss the horrendous experience they are having.

It is important to make it clear that Barnet UNISON is not just concerned about members terms & conditions but the also the use of Public money, procurement, contract monitoring & governance arrangements. The lessons to learn from a number of the examples we have found so far is TRANSPARENCY. We need to ensure that the consultation is truly inclusive, which allows staff, residents, local politicians the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals.

Barnet Trades Council Newsletter.......

2008-06-01T18:38:00.003+01:00

If our national leadership were able to replicate the joint working of our local trade union branches (UNISON(local government, health, Higher Education), PCS, CWU, NUT, UCU, NUJ, RMT in the Barnet Trades Council then Public Sector Pay Awards would be Real Pay Awards and not Pay Cuts......

View our newsletter Online at Barnet Trades Union Council
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3194314/Barnet-Trades-Council-newsletter-MayJune-2008

Fremantle Campaign escalates...............

2008-06-01T18:24:00.003+01:00

Barnet UNISON recently carried out a consultative ballot following a proposal from Fremantle.

Fremantle Care Workers overwhelmingly rejected (95.9%) the offer. For more details of the offer and what Fremantle are doing read our latest newsletter

Online at Fremantle Voice June
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3192217/Barnet-UNISON-Fremantle-Voice-2008-JunePDF

Fremantle last week sent out a ballot letter to staff. It does not have a closure date and we don’t know who they have sent it to…..it doesn’t give staff much of a choice…..They also clearly believe that it is the Branch NOT the Fremantle Care Workers who wanting to keep the dispute going.........!...but maybe we are being unfair…take a look for yourself

Fremantle Trust Ballot letter
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3194124/Fremantle-Trust-ballot-letter

The Fremantle Stewards committee have written to UNISON London region outlining a comprehensive action plan which includes an escalation in industrial action staring this month. As soon as we have confirmation of the dates we will update our members and supporters.

However, the door remains open to more talks if Fremantle are prepared to put something substantially better than the last offer…………….

Pay Ballot begins USE YOUR VOTE

2008-06-01T17:46:00.007+01:00

Not a day goes by without some mention of rising fuel bills, food, mortgages. The offer of 2.45% is simply not enough and the added worry is that if we don’t fight back we could be looking at a similar award for the next THREE YEARS!

Check out our Barnet UNISON Pay Matters presentation on what is at stake

Barnet UNISON Pay Matters presentation
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3195540/Barnet-UNISON-Pay-Matters-2008
or
Barnet UNISON Pay Matters PDF
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3195546/Barnet-UNISON-Pay-Matters-2008
This is why it is important that we support our national negotiators!
Make sure you USE YOUR VOTE….
Talk to your colleagues at work.

Go to UNISON TV to listen to why you deserve a Pay Award

http://www.unison.org.uk/video/video_paymatters.asp?did=6365

Or view this excellent video by Tower Hamlets UNISON Branch on why we should reject Brown's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zMer00f54c

Show Brown the RED CARD

We need a big turn out at the ballot box.

Clamping in NLBP !

2008-05-16T15:41:00.004+01:00

On Friday 2 May at 15.56pm a First team bulletin was issued including.....two items, the first was a ‘burst water’ pipes story……..however the next item was a short report that Clamping would be operational. UNISON responded immediately, raising concern about the lateness of the information and the lack of consultation.

It has come to our attention that the briefing has not been followed …………..no warnings for staff just a clamp and a £120 fine.

UNISON is not supporting staff parking illegally, what we are saying is that the Council should have more notice of the use of a clampers. They also need to demonstrate that they are monitoring those parking in NLBP without permits. It is no secret that we are squeezing more and more staff into NLBP.

UNISON has asked for a meeting with the manager responsible for the introduction of the Clampers, we will provide an update for members in due course.

National Pay – Strike ballot agreed !

2008-05-15T18:51:00.004+01:00

UNISON members working in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given the green light for a ballot on industrial action after rejecting the pay offer from employers………..

Full story go to [http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4255]

The challenge is now on both for the membership and the General Secretaries of all the major Trade Unions. Members working across the public sector will be expecting joint trade union action if the ballot support industrial action. They will expect to attend joint trade union meetings ..................it is going to be a busy few months!

Future Shape of Barnet Council – One week on!

2008-05-15T18:09:00.006+01:00

Online Forum with the Chief Executive
It is good to see staff responding to the first of what I hope will be many more online forums on the Future Shape of Barnet Council. UNISON agrees with the comments about ‘plain English’ too often the public are put off becoming involved in consultation by the type of language used in committee meetings and public documents. Whilst we await a ‘plain English’ version UNISON believe it is important staff understand what is at stake over the next 202 days until the Cabinet Committee 3 December 2008.

It is already clear from reading the comments raised on the online forum that the impact of privatisation is an issue not just for staff but for service delivery & value for money. In the past the Trade Unions were labelled as ‘dinosaurs’ because they objected to marketisation of public services. Well, we have had 30 years of continuous attacks on Public Services, it is clear that privatisation has not delivered the savings or improved quality the introduction of the private and voluntary sector heralded. As for staff it has been a disaster, terms and conditions quickly eroded, and little prospect for improvement.

Hard working loyal staff
In Barnet the last five years have been hard on staff as they have had to cope with year on years cuts, less staff , but increased workloads and at the same time see their pay fall behind the cost of living! It is incredible that despite all of this they have delivered a Four Star Service!

So I can understand the mixed feelings of frustration, anger, disbelief from staff that all their hard work could be rewarded by being privatised! I notice Lambeth Council who recently achieved 3 stars have just announced staff with gain an extra days annual leave this year.
Perhaps Barnet staff will get 2 days……………………..?

So what does this consultation mean for staff and services?

It is clear that all Council services are potentially at risk of being transferred out. I think it is understandable that staff are worried about the future in another organisation out of Council control. After all as some of those on the forums have pointed out, we don’t want another Fremantle debacle!

Why are they doing this?
Let’s hear it from the horse’s mouth…………..

The Communities and Local Government Minister Hazel Blears said
“Local Authorities will see their role change to strategic planners and commissioners of services, while involving ‘partners’ and ‘stakeholders’ in “developing and delivering a shared vision for their area”

"local authorities will generally be better able to meet their best value duty by adopting a commissioning role ... making use of all available resources - without regard for whether services are provided in-house, externally or through various forms of partnership."

The message could not be clearer Government policies are pushing local authorities to stop providing services and take on a ‘commissioning’ role and at the same time limiting funding necessary to deliver services. In response to funding issues for an ever-growing London Borough our Council developed the ‘Barnet Bond’ (no relative of 007 James Bond !) as a means to fund the increasing pressure on our Borough’s infrastructure as the population continues to grow.

The Challenge
This government's plans for delivering local services introduce a whole range of new bodies and terms to the public-service landscape. The key features of the new landscape are:

Local Strategic Partnership - this brings together public bodies in the local area that provide public services, alongside the community and voluntary sector and local businesses, and is convened by the local authority;

Sustainable Community Strategy - the strategic long-term plan for an area drawn up by the local strategic partnership and formally agreed by a full local council meeting;

Comprehensive Area Assessment - a new performance management system, with 198 'indicators' covering not just local authorities, but all areas where they are working in partnership, which includes most other public services, and replacing comprehensive performance assessment;

Local Area Agreement - sets out 35 locally agreed performance targets that councils and partner organisations aim to meet; it is negotiated locally through the local strategic partnership and ratified by a full local council meeting before being agreed by central government.

Some of our members will be familiar with the above headings but most will not. But we all need to understand them and the impact they will have on services and whether the Council remains an employer for the majority of their staff.

What should we do next?
It seems as we have must address this period of consultation on two levels. Firstly we must engage in the consultation process and scrutinise proposals within the Council. Secondly we all need to address this issue with our local MP’s. Our branch will draft a letter for our members to use or amend and send to their own MP.

Barnet UNISON recognises that our members are facing major challenges and the need for us to build alliances in our community. National UNISON is at the forefront of defending public services not just for members but for the local community. This is why our branch AGM agreed to affiliate with London Citizens and help revive the Barnet Trades Union Council, membership includes most of the largest Trades Unions in the UK, UNISON, GMB, NUT, UCU, PCS, RMT, CWU, NUJ with more Unions looking to join.

Barnet Council is already visiting other Councils who have entered into partnerships; Barnet UNISON will make contact with UNISON branches in those Councils.

Communication
We will endeavour to keep a regular communication on progress through emails/website/newsletters/branch meetings. We are trying to maximise the means by which we communicate with our members. Converting newsletters into electronic format and sending links to our BLOG.

I am pleased to announce that we have a UNISON page on the Council’s intranet.
Please save this link as a favourite. Our eNEWS will direct you to updates and consultation documents.

Remember if you have any comments email them to
contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Adult Learner Week in Barnet - Give it a go!

2008-05-13T22:48:00.001+01:00

UNISON & GMB reps attending Cabinet meeting 6 May 2008

2008-05-07T08:07:00.003+01:00

Local UNISON & GMB reps outside Barnet House before the Cabinet meeting.

Pat Ward Fremantle UNISON rep came along to listen to discussions about the possible future employment of Barnet Council staff. Pat has a lot to say on that subject!!!!

What future for Barnet Council staff ?

2008-05-06T23:03:00.003+01:00

Consultation clock begins……..

The Cabinet report entitled ‘Future organisation for Barnet Council’. The report be found online at the following link….

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=6822

The report was presented by the Chief Executive with support from the Leader of the Council.

The Committee were told the Council had poor prospects of any increases in funding from Government, and there was a real likelihood funding could decrease. ‘Salami slicing’ approach to these funding problems was unsustainable for the medium to long term.

The consultation will look to see if the Councils current structures are ‘fit for purpose’ i.e. the pace of change is increasing, the council needs to be able to respond quickly and effectively to these changes.

It was acknowledged in the meeting that ‘traditional privatisation model’ was not the answer either.

Barnet will have to learn from others, looking at examples within the UK and abroad.

Barnet will be particularly looking at Partnerships with both public/private/ third sectors. Such partnerships would be long term (generational) but with a flexibility to be able to react to changes.

Members of the Cabinet raised a number of questions and queries

1. One Councillor was keen to look at radical and different options at delivering services

2. Another councillor expressed a need for much tighter ‘governance arrangements’ and the ability to performance manage any future partnerships

3. How would this future impact on our relationship with the PCT?

4. Will this new organisation be able to adapt to emerging issues and trends?

5. We are one of the first Councils in the UK to address this issue

Chief Executive will review the options and report back to Cabinet on 3 December 2008

UNISON members
The consultation clock begins. The branch will be shortly carrying out a ballot of members views and endeavouring to keep our members informed. Tomorrow I attend a meeting with the Chief Executive……..

HOT OF THE PRESS – Barnet Council Staff

2008-04-28T20:34:00.001+01:00

Big Changes ahead….Your future……..Break up or Shake up?

We first raised this issue in one of our newsletters early this year. On Tuesday 6 May the following report is going before the Council’s Cabinet Committee

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=6822

Do not be mistaken this is a very real issue for everyone working for the Council. The report outlines the breadth of the research & consultation which needs to take place before a recommendation is brought back to future Cabinet Committee.

If we have learnt anything it is that everyone needs to become involved in the consultation process which will roll out across the Council in the next few months. UNISON will provide updates on our involvement in the consultation process, but YOU need to alert UNISON to any discussions within your workplace. All of you have a the skills, expertise & knowledge which we value, after all it is YOUR hard work which delivered Four Star status for the Council earlier this year!

We have had very positive assurances from the Council that they want to genuinely consult with UNISON. We have already had one meeting with the Executive Director Nick Walkley and we are due to meet with the Chief Executive the day after the Cabinet Committee.

However, it is important not to be complacent. Sadly we have had some bad experiences when previous Council decisions have resulted in UNISON members being ‘transferred’ out of the Council control. There have been a number of recent examples of privatisation; the one which Barnet UNISON members will be most familiar is Fremantle. But that isn’t the only example we have seen. This is why we want to make sure UNISON is involved in the consultation process and is in a position to scrutinise the recommendations which will be made to a future Cabinet committee.

As Branch Secretary I will make this my number one priority and will endeavour to make regular reports to all our members working for the Council. It is highly likely we will need to set up branch meetings to give members opportunities to put questions or raise issues. In the meanwhile if you have any concerns about the process or have any questions about what it all means you can email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Finally I would like to extend an invitation to join me at the Cabinet Committee meeting on Tuesday 6 May 2008, at 7 pm in Barnet House, Whetstone.

Individualised Budgets in Barnet

2008-04-21T20:07:00.002+01:00

Dear Colleagues,

Everyone working in Adult Social Services (ASS) will have heard of Individualised Budgets, and the Choice Agenda.

But how many of you are clear about what it will mean for you, our service users and their carers?

Barnet UNISON early last year recognised that massive change was coming, which is why we established early contact with the Director of Adult Social Services and her senior management team.

Just before Christmas 2007, UNISON sponsored a successful Public meeting with a number of speakers. It was clear from discussions at that meeting that delivering the Choice agenda is going to be challenging for staff, service users, carers, service providers, and the Council.

ASS appointed Project Manager (Ed Gowan) was charged with the task of delivering the Choice Agenda. A number of managers from the Care groups have taken on roles of ‘Service Champions’ to look at issues and processes. Regular communication on progress has been cascaded across Adult Social Services.

UNISON has responded by identifying UNISON champions for each Care group; Helen Davies (Older Adults), Peter Wright (Sensory impairment/Physical disabilities) Maggie Guy ( Back office), Liz Thomasson (Learning Difficulties), Tom Mahoney (Mental Health), and Maggi Myland (Social Services Convenor).

Two meetings with Service Champions and UNISON have taken place with more to follow. UNISON recognised that the level of engagement with our members needs to increase. Helen Davies will be the Lead UNISON rep. for Choice Agenda. We are in the process of negotiating some release time for Helen, in the interim you can contact Helen at helen.davies@barnetunison.org.uk or Helen.C.Davies@Barnet.gov.uk

Clearly there will be significant changes if the Choice Agenda is to be successful. UNISON will be looking to set up UNISON meetings across Adult Social Services. It is important that all staff take an active part in this consultation. You have the expertise and the local knowledge, without you the change process will not work.

All change can bring uncertainty, fear, stress and confusion; however it can also bring more creative and better ways of working and delivering services. This is why we need to be talking to all our members across ASS.

Everyone working in ASS wants to deliver better services for service users and carers. UNISON supports increasing choice and independence for service users. We want to take an active role to ensure the structure is able to deliver.

One thing for certain these changes are going to affect the way you work, the services available to service users, your grade, you future career development.

We are circulating this short letter to all of our members. Over the next four weeks we will be looking to set up meetings with UNISON members across Barnet.

But don’t wait…. .......... if you have any ideas, suggestions or questions…… ......................contact Helen at helen.davies@barnetunison.org.uk or Helen.C.Davies@Barnet.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

John Burgess
Branch Secretary

YOUR PAY MATTERS

2008-04-21T20:00:00.002+01:00

Retail Price Index versus Consumer Price Index

Retail Price Index
The National Statistics website http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=21
“The Retail Prices Index (RPI) is the most familiar general purpose domestic measure of inflation in the United Kingdom. It is available continuously from June 1947. The Government uses it for uprating of pensions, benefits and index-linked gilts. It is commonly used in private contracts for uprating of maintenance payments and housing rents. It is also used for wage bargaining”

Consumer Price Index
"The Consumer Prices (CPI) and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) are the same index. The index has been designed as a macro-economic measure of consumer price inflation. It forms the basis for the Government's inflation target which the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is required to achieve."

Clear as mud?
Put it simply the RPI is the more accurate measure of the cost of living pressures on households. The Government like to use CPI because it makes their Pay Policy look like it is in line with prices……………

Just how thick do they think we are?

Well it seems we are prepared to believe anything……apparently Public Sector workers are responsible for rises in inflation! (WHAT RUBBISH !) This is why the Government believes all Public Sector workers should be happy with 2% Pay Awards, year after year after year after year!

Funny that…………..no problem finding

£100 Billion to bail out Northern Rock……
£50 Billion to bail out major banks in the city …
£XXX Billion on the war in Iraq & Afghanstan

Or, hitting the low income households with the 10 pence Tax rate

Well, Public Sector workers can have a say…….our branch is carrying out a consultative ballot. If you haven’t had your ballot paper yet, contact the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088/2083 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Use your vote

Barnet College - Redundancy talks.................

2008-04-15T23:51:00.003+01:00

Once again our local reps are having to attend redundancy talks again with Barnet College. FE funding is clearly under attack as a result of Train to Gain.

Joint Trade Union meetings have been taking place and further consutlation meetings are due to take place over the next 6 weeks. More detailed reports will be going out to members under threat. We understand that up to 24 posts are at risk.

Fremantle Convenor says Farewell

2008-04-15T22:40:00.004+01:00

We want to take this opportunity to give praise to Carmel Reynolds ex Fremantle Convenor.

I have known Carmel for over 11 years. In 2005 when we were looking for a replacement for the previous Fremantle Convenor Barbara Kirkbride, Carmel volunteered to give it a go. Carmel had no Trade Union experience, little did she know what challenges she would face. Everyone in our branch, everyone in our region and everyone in our Union nationally agree that Carmel has been an inspiration to us all.

Last Friday we said our goodbyes to Carmel but for the final word, we are going to print an email Carmel sent to the Fremantle Chief Executive Carole Sawyers earlier this week which sums up Carmel and what our campaign is all about

“Dear Carol,

I'm sure you thought you had heard the last of me but I need to say a few things re the staff I left behind. Now that I have the time to reflect on the past 23 years I have to say that I have worked with some amazing people. People who have committed themselves to caring for older people, a not so glamorous task in itself but hugely rewarding. Now that young people have so much choice career wise it amazes me that some will want to come into care work and stay in it.

I and my colleagues stayed for all the right reasons, it offered security, decent standard of living, good training, good prospects, and the T&C we had reflected the respect our employers had for us as carers. When we lost these T&C we lost not only money, holidays etc, but also the feeling that we were worth investing in. Losing self esteem in our employment was soul shattering. I am probably not explaining myself very well but my colleagues and I always felt that none of this ever mattered to Fremantle, we felt we were been used and abused. I know these are strong words but our loss was devastating.

Carol some of your staff who suffered so much financial loss had bailiffs knocking on their door over the xmas period, spent so much of that holiday working instead of spending time with their families. These same staff always gave so much extra of themselves without question to the residents, things like coming in on rest day to take them to hospital, or changing day off to attend review, even popping into the hospital in their own time to visit a resident etc. I could go on. The point I am trying to make is that Caring is based on so much good will, staff will put in the time and effort but will the Employer.

Carol you do have some wonderful staff who will stay and help build Fremantle’s reputation if you treat them well, respect them and don’t force them into working so many hours that they cannot be good carers. Make them feel valued, not second rate employees.

I wish you and Fremantle Trust success, and I wish all my ex colleagues a good and loyal Employer.
Carmel Reynolds.

Fremantle Care Workers - update April 2008

2008-04-15T22:34:00.002+01:00

We have deliberately not been updating our branch on this issue pending talks with Fremantle and Catalyst Housing.

On Monday 14 April we met with representatives from both organisations. Whilst there are clear differences as to what both parties would like to resolve this long running campaign (it is now 380 days since the Terms and Conditions were taken away) it was useful having all parties sitting round the table.

We have subsequently written to Fremantle asking for clarification on a number of points before we begin our consultation of our members.

More news later..................

Barnet Homes 'On yer bike!'

2008-04-15T22:23:00.003+01:00

Our Assistant Branch Secretary Anne Denison has been doing a tremendous job over the last 12 months, now she is facing the challenge of running a campaign to defend members terms and conditions.

The ALMO are looking to take away essential car users allowance. These staff are required to have a car and need it to provide services to some of the most vulnerable residents in our community. We are carrying out a consultative ballot, Anne has organised a number of meetings to meet with members. In the interim Anne has written to the Employer asking them to drop the proposal. Details of her negotiations and the ballot will be posted at a later date.

What this clearly indicates is the dangers of services moving away from Council control.

Promises that staff will be protected by tupe means nothing. It is important that to protect your terms and conditions you need high union density. It is important that when the ‘conversation begins on the future shape of the council that ALL staff make sure they take part. UNISON will be providing advice as the consultation unfolds.

London Citizens Mayoral candidates meeting

2008-04-15T22:09:00.003+01:00

Awesome, incredible, inspirational………..I am still buzzing after the meeting over over 2,500 people packed into Westminster Central Hall. Barnet UNISON members agreed that the branch affiliate to this organisation.

The potential for organising across communities is fantastic already they have taken on the City Financial Institutions, Tate Modern, Olympics Committee, Ken Livingstone, White City devleopers..............

The cultural diversity was incredible, old and young all feeling part of something that is making a difference to people's lives. At a time when it seems that 'apathy' is threatening our democracy, it was fantastic to see so many people who felt they could and will make a difference.

But now the challenge is out these for UNISON members and their friends and families.

Do you belong to a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, community group, School, University?

If you do then speak to the leaders of your group/community, come along to the next North London Citizens meeting in June ( deatils to be posted later)

Barnet UNISON are now members of a steering group looking at setting up a north London Citizens. For more details of the meeting go to http://www.londoncitizens.org.uk/

Now is the time to get involved and make a difference to our communities

Trades Union Council - Launch on 22 April 2008

2008-04-15T22:04:00.003+01:00

This is a good opportunity for members to come along and listen to other Trade unions talk about joint action in support for pay claims. NUT/PCS & UCU

College Union UCU
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3215
Teaching Union NUT
http://www.teachers.org.uk/resources/pdf/GSStrikeMembers5457.pdf
Public Sector Union (PCS)
http://www.pcs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=918919

All three Trade Unions will be taking Industrial Action on 24 April 2008.

Hear what can be acheived when Trade Unions work together

Make sure you come along

Keep the BNP out of Barnet and London

2008-04-15T21:51:00.004+01:00

The BNP are putting a candidate up in Hale Ward for a local Council election. This is the first time for a long time. The boroughs demographics are changing along with other London boroughs. This is something which we want to celebate and enjoy. London is a fantastic city. We do not need to see the 'Politics of Hate in Barnet or London.'

It is important that we organise to keep the BNP out of Barnet and also out of the GLA elections.
http://www.unison.org.uk/stoptheBNP/

There is going to be a leafleting campaign on 26 April 2008, more details will be posted later. Come along to the Barnet Trades Council on Tuesday 22 April 2008, 7 pm Hendon Town Hall to hear a Speaker from Hope not Hate campaign.

Service Group Elections (SGE)

2008-04-15T21:48:00.001+01:00

It is important that ALL member stake part in the democratic process of elections. In this case the SGE elections. Your ballot papers should start dropping through your doors now. Mosr members do not know who the candidates are, which explains why the ‘turnout is often low. Our branch believes it is important that elected UNISON representatives should be accountable. Taking seats on these UNISON national bodies is not an excuse for getting away from work. They are important issues at stake such as Pay, Privatisation to name a few. This is why our branch has decided to make sure if we need any support for these representatives we keep a record of whether they have responded to any branch requests for support.

Our branch executive agreed to nominate

Dave Eggmore and Sonya Howard.

Make sure you use you vote

Barnet UNISON Consultative Pay Ballot

2008-04-15T21:39:00.003+01:00

We have had an offer of 2.45%.

Our National Negotiators have asked all branches to carry out a consultative ballot and report back by 7 May 2008.

We are sending ballot papers to all members home addresses. If you have not received your ballot paper by Tuesday 23 April please contact the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088/2083 or email

contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Please note this is a Consultative ballot not an industrial action ballot. Our negotiators need to know what you think of the offer and what you are prepared to do if you want an improvement.

Does this worry you????

2008-03-20T18:13:00.004Z

UNISON’s National Pay Campaign ‘Pay Matters’ is highlighting the increasing gap between the ‘REAL’ cost of living for public sector workers. UNISON reps. at the AGM said that it was crucial that UNISON delivered on Pay. It is clear that soon we are going to be balloted on an offer which is unlikely to be above 2.5%.
The question is how will UNISON members vote?

Keep up to date at UNISON’s website at:
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4113

NATIONAL UNISON ELECTIONS - USE YOUR VOTE

2008-03-19T21:59:00.003Z

All Barnet UNISON members will be balloted in April and early May to elect London's representatives on the Service Group Executive (SGE) for Local Government. The SGE is the national body which oversees all UNISON issues affecting members employed in local government, including national negotiations on the pay claim and service conditions agreements. The Service Group covers members employed by Local Authorities and Further Education Colleges, Voluntary Organisations and private contractors which provide local services.

Elections of leading national bodies like the SGE are the keystone in UNISON's lay members democracy and it is vital that as many members participate as possible. Ballot papers will be sent to members home addresses from 7 April onwards and the closing date for their return will be Friday 16 May. If you have changed home address recently and have not notified your trade union you should do this now to ensure you keep your right to vote. Please contact the Branch Office on 0208 359 2088 or by email to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

During the running of the ballot there will be a national helpline for members who do not receive ballot papers. The Branch will be publicising this number in early April. The ballot papers will include full information on the candidates and how to vote.
Barnet Branch is nominating the following candidates:

General Seat David Eggmore/Camden Branch

Women’s Seat Sonya Howard/ Kensington & Chelsea Branch

Look out for your ballot paper in the post from 7 April onwards.
HAVE YOUR SAY - VOTE BY 16 MAY

One Year on AVMEG AGM

2008-03-19T21:46:00.003Z

Since our launch in May 2007, AVMEG has achieved significant growth, from workshops, surgeries, training & development, policy involvement and growing in membership of staff across the council.

It is that time of year to celebrate with us at our forth-coming AGM.
We will have top-notch speakers, comedian and cultural culinary dishes to whet your appetite right on your doorstep. Our invitation stretches right across the council and we will have the presence of the Mayor and Leader.

At our AGM we will be looking for new Committee Panel Members to join us, as last year some of our panel members have left the council to pastures new.

The date for your diaries will be Thursday 24 April 2008 at 11:00am to 2:00pm in the Conference Room 1, Building 2, North London Business Park.

Our culinary dishes for the day will comprise of West Indian, African and Asian food, which will be on sale at just £3.00

For more information and ticket sales, please contact Mike on ext 2199, Archa on ext 7201 and Manjula on ext 7945 – or you can contact us by email [avmeg@barnet.gov.uk ]

Barnet UNISON AGM 6 March 2008

2008-03-19T20:41:00.015Z

A brief summary of our AGM and some of our speakers

Spot the Difference?
Cup 1

Cup 2

Check out the answer at the end of this post!

1. Schools

UNISON’s National Secretary Education and Children's Workforce Christina McAnea reported on the national negotiations for school staff. The aim is to have a national framework of pay and conditions which will apply across all types of schools, i.e. Community, Foundation and VA, only Academies would be outside this. UNISON has said this will need to have statutory underpinning so that it is enforceable in schools and the government are preparing draft legislation on this. Once a new framework has been produced and there are details of the proposals UNISON will ballot members in schools. If it is agreed school staff would transfer from the NJC conditions to the new schools conditions. She confirmed that they wanted the new framework to be able to deliver fair pay for school staff that rewards them for the jobs they actually do and that they would be able to reach an agreement on dealing with term time pay.

2. London Citizens are coming to North London.......

At our AGM last week we watched a DVD made by London Citizens which explained how they were engaging candidates for London Mayor this year; culminating in a meeting with the candidates on 9 April. After hearing from guest speaker Catherine Howard, our AGM unanimously agreed to affiliate with London Citizens. You can find out more about London Citizens at http://www.londoncitizens.org.uk/

If you would like to attend:
CITIZENS MAYORAL ACCOUNTABILITY ASSEMBLY FOR KEY CANDIDATES
Wednesday 9th April
19.00 to 21.15
THE GREAT HALL,
WESTMINSTER METHODIST CENTRAL HALL,
Storey’s Gate
Westminster SW1H 9NH
please ring the UNISON office on 0208 359 2083/2088 to book you place

3. Barnet Trades Union Council is launched!

At the AGM on 22nd April at Hendon Town Hall 7 pm the new Barnet Trades Union Council will be launched. The theme for the AGM is “defending public services in Barnet.”

'We see this as an opportunity for trade unionists living and working in Barnet to be able to take part in what is happening to their local public services; be it London Underground/Buses/Hospitals/Social Services/Schools/Colleges/Universities/Post Offices/Job & Benefit Centres. We hope that working together we can help contribute and highlight local concerns in our community.’

Invitations have gone out to leaders of the local political parties and Trade Unions/MPs along with a number of guest speakers. At the end of the meeting there will be elections for posts in Barnet Trades Union Council.
For more information contact the Barnet UNISON office on 0208 359 2088/2083

4. A Big Thank you

Irene Hennessey former UNISON Social Secretary receiving congratulations from Christina on her work for UNISON members & the branch. Irene has agreed to take an active role in our Retired members branch.

5. Barnet UNISON—Activist of the Year Award

Carmel Reynolds (Fremantle Convenor) and her team of UNISON reps received the Activist of the Year Award for their unrelenting dedication and hard work in running the Fremantle Care Workers dispute. The Dispute is ongoing, talks are planned later next month with Fremantle

The Fremantle dispute threw down a challenge to UNISON and its members - support those who earn the least and are affected the most when it came to the cuts in wages. All the stewards rose to that challenge and have given so much of their own time and effort in trying to get back what was stolen. Their efforts have increased as the weeks have gone by and their resolve remains as strong as ever. For that reason I salute them and the branch rightly honours them with the annual award.” Eddy Coulson Regional Officer

6. Austin Harney PCS rep speaking at the AGM

“The government imposed a 2% pay cut with many civil servants on salaries less than £20,000 p.a. With increased workloads and less staff, thousands of jobs are being cut every year. Staff morale and service delivery to the public is seriously compromised.
Only solidarity with all Trade Unions can make the difference."

7. Keith Nason - Branch Secretary National Union of Teachers (NUT)

Explained to AGM why his Union is balloting their members and that they maybe taking the first day of action on 24 April 2008. He went on to explain that it was important that all the National Unions speak together about delivering joint action if we are to tackle the 2% wage cuts being imposed by Gordon Brown.

8. March 2008 Local Government Chronicle headline -

“Two thirds ready to make job cuts!”

I can believe that this journal is not on many of our members reading list…but this article signals the start of what could be one of the most fundamental changes in Local government in a long time.
“A survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows 68% plan to reduce their staff head count as one of the main ways of shaving 3% off their budgets in each of the next three years”

A particularly shocking story in the Chronicle concerns the London Borough of Hounslow

‘….goal of taking £50-62 m out of Councils budget - which will effectively be reduced by 18%. In the process the council planning to shed up to 4,000 of its staff”

What does it all mean and what is driving it?
Well firstly it means that the way the Council looks and delivers services could change dramatically. The obvious choice is privatisation, but this model whilst promising a short term and a quick fix, history has shown us it often doesn’t deliver. Not only in terms of quality but value for money. It also leave Councils vulnerable in that they lose expertise and as such are at the mercy of the market. In other words the Council are stuffed and in a poor position in terms of negotiating future contracts.

This challenge is something which cannot be ignored. Barnet UNISON will endeavour to keep members aware of any developments….
WATCH THIS SPACE!

John Burgess - Branch Secretary

9. Spot the Difference Answer
Coffee cup 1 is sold at the Council run Atrium, all the money goes back into the Council.

Coffee cup 2 is sold by a private company all profits go to……

Support your In House Services - Visit the Atrium

Life Long Learning success story keeps getting better!

2008-02-25T21:39:00.004Z

"Hard work reaps rewards for staff accessing the Barnet UNISON Return2Learn courses. we are into our third year now and the success story for our Learners just gets better and better.....you can see for yourself......!"

PLEASE NOTE:

You may need to play this twice in order to have an uninterrupted view.

JUST CLICK ON THE PLAY ICON

Social Services feedback.............

2008-01-27T19:39:00.000Z

Learning Disabilities......re-grading.......
Staff working in the Day Care provision at Flower Lane are still waiting for their pay rates to be harmonized. UNISON has been told that this ‘work is in hand’ and we eagerly await managements resolution to this outstanding inequality. We understand that similar issues affect staff working in other day care settings (e.g. Broadfields and supported living) and that this is part of a larger management exercise.
Watch this space!

Mental Health Services......
Possible transfer out of the Council has mentioned in relation all Council staff working in Mental Health Services. The transfer would have been to the BEH-MHT (Barnet Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust). Barnet UNISON’s Branch Secretary John Burgess and I, together with the HR manager attended a Q&A session for staff at the Community Network on 24th January to help clarify some issues.

Both the Council and Barnet UNISON strongly recommend that staff working alongside BEH-MHT in multi-disciplinary teams are better to agree the offer of ‘3 year secondment to BEH’ and retain their unbroken service with L.B.Barnet.

Additionally there is an Information Day for Council staff working in Barnet’s Mental Health services on Wed 6th February at NLBP. Make sure that someone from your team /workplace attends to give you all feedback.

Physical and Sensory Impairment.
Daycare Service users mainly attend Flightways Resource centre.
This setting is also joining the Council’s modernization programme
And our members/ staff will be working in different ways to facilitate the service-users access to more mainstream community services.

We need YOU

As always Barnet UNISON needs MORE workplace stewards. Why not you?
Lots of training and support available; regular stewards meetings and other branch officers for specialized issues.
Interested? Then please contact me at the UNISON office.
Finally, Barnet UNISON is planning to resurrect the UNISON Womens’ Group. The vast majority of our membership is female and it is important that our particular issues have a higher profile within the branch. Tracey Lowe and I will be consulting with our female membership soon, even before the next UNISON Voice is published!

Maggi Myland Social Services Convenor

Second chance for Home Care workers.....

2008-01-27T19:09:00.000Z

Several years ago our Home Care services were privatised to the Housing 21.

Housing 21 is a national housing association. Whilst we would always want key public services to remain in-house we (UNISON) have had a positive relationship with Housing 21.

For almost 6 months Home Care workers have been attending Return2Learn course every Friday morning. Housing 21 have provided an excellent evaluation on the course. Staff are reporting back both to the tutor and their managers the positive impact it is having in terms of their job and outside work.

This work is something any Union would be proud and we are.

We want to see more opportunities for all staff.

If you have not heard about ‘return2learn' course then contact

Susan Timthong at susan.timthong@barnetunison.org.uk or

Carmen Bruno at carmen.bruno@barnetunison.org.uk or

Ring 0208 359 2088

Housing update....................

2008-01-27T18:43:00.000Z

Some big changes in Housing ahead with Benefits returning to what is now Resources and Housing Needs and Resources and Housing Policy becoming part of Planning Housing and Regeneration. You should all have been told about these proposals by now, if not please contact your manager.

Why they didn’t do this four years ago when the greater part of Housing was transferred to Barnet Homes I don’t know.

At this time, UNISON still have no details of the proposed restructure of Housing Needs and Resources due to take place later in the year and are waiting for these. As soon as we receive them we will discuss them with you.

As we do in almost all parts of the council, we need more stewards, particularly as, with the rest of Benefits, I will be part of Resources from April and therefore will no longer be the Assistant Branch Secretary for Housing. However this is unlikely to result in any reduction in my union activities as (if elected) I will become the Assistant Branch Secretary for Resources instead, a much larger area. If you are interested in becoming a steward, please contact me or John Burgess the Branch Secretary. You will receive full support and training.

Adam Elkington Assistant Branch Secretary Housing.

Barnet College UNISON team reports...........

2008-01-27T18:20:00.000Z

Firstly, we would like to welcome to the Steward's Team Kirsty Watson, who joined in the autumn, and is already providing an invaluable contribution as UNISON rep on the new College Learning Committee.

Kirsty says some more about herself below:
"I joined the team in October 2007 and, as the newest member, I have only been working on one case. However, I have joined the Learning Committee as your UNISON representative and I intend to make sure that it delivers equal opportunities for all who wish to participate in a non-threatening environment. The Learning Committee is meeting up again in February, so any Feedback from members who have attended the drop-in sessions would be greatly appreciated.
I am also concerned with the cleanliness of the college in general (having had uninvited mice in the office I work with). The cut backs provide an unsatisfactory working environment.
The final issue that I would like to see resolved in the near future is lack of supply of drinking water. It is, after all, a Legal Requirement that fresh drinking water is supplied to employees and this requirement is not being met at present."

The key Health and Safety issues that Kirsty has highlighted above will be pursued vigorously by your UNISON reps in joint consultation with our UCU colleagues- there are clearly health and safety issues that affect other college sites apart from the Business Park.

Three other key issues that your Union is currently pursuing (again, jointly with UCU and the other teaching unions) are:

- the cost of living pay increase, now long-overdue

- the future of Collective Agreements in the light of the new Academic Management Spine contracts that UCU members were required to sign last summer. This has implications for all of us, and should be of general concern

- feedback on the results of the recent staff survey (conducted as part of the valuing staff initiative by the College). We hope that you all returned your forms!

The Barnet College Stewards Team

Individualised Budgets...........update

2008-01-26T17:50:00.000Z

For years disabled people have fought for and won huge changes in our expectations as to how people with disabilities should be seen and treated. Discrimination is still a prominent feature in our society but the way provisions are discussed have meant we are now more familiar with notions of empowerment and with disabled people having more direct control over how their care or assistance to play an active and independent part in society should be delivered. Towards the end of the nineties Direct Payments were introduced which meant that people could get cash from the Council and employ someone of their choosing to assist them with their activities of daily living. This was viewed positively by movements representing disabled people.

The same cannot be said entirely of Individualised Budgets. There is a feeling that whereas the move to Direct Payments was driven by the Disabled Movement, the move to Individualised Budgets is being driven by the Government. Voices of caution wanting to wait for the full evaluation of the pilot schemes are being ignored as the Government has given the green light for wholesale implementation of the scheme irrespective of the evaluations.

LB Barnet is moving to wholesale provision of care/ assistance through Individualised Budgets now. Through this scheme it is hoping to increase independence, choice and wellbeing for disabled people and save money. No one can be against increasing independence, choice and wellbeing and schemes which seek to develop and promote this should be supported. Barnet UNISON is heavily involved in the discussions and negotiations around the implementation of Individualised Budgets for this reason and because such a radical change will impact massively on the way we work within the council. We have already organised one successful public meeting and we intend to organise more. There will also be workplace based meetings with groups of workers affected.

From Adult Social Services Barnet UNISON has a team of people who will be playing a leading role in the negotiations for our members. The team consists of:
Maggi Myland
Peter Wright

Helen Davies
Liz Thomasson

Maggi Guy

These people welcome your thoughts and ideas relating to what you hear about how Individualised Budgets is being implemented/ proposed in your workplace. What will its effects be on workers and service users? We want to contribute to make sure everyone ends up a winner!

Helen Davies

Branch Chair

UNISON Barnet College rep

2008-01-26T17:47:00.000Z

Hello I am Eileen Hagger-Street and I am a Librarian. I know. Shocking, isn’t it? How did I get into this mess? Let me tell you.

I was drawn into it as a child. Right next door to my school was a place where pretty coloured picture books and exciting, magical stories were displayed on low shelves, with comfy chairs near by so a small child could browse these goodies in undisturbed peace. Not only that! They could take the books home! For no charge! Free, gratis and for nothing. And it was open Saturdays too, so I started sneaking in there even when not at school. My parents did nothing to stop this depraved behaviour, other than wonder if I might go blind with all the reading…

Is it any wonder that with such an appalling beginning I should end up as a Senior Learning Resource Advisor in Barnet College, and still hopelessly addicted to books and reading for the joy of it? Who can help me break the habit and become a good citizen of the Wonderful World of New Technology, with a First Class Silver Surfer Award? Well, I’m glad [or is it galled?] to say that I have taken the pledge to do my H&S training online, so I am obliged to to follow threads, chatlines, blogs and other Internet stuff to become a good H&S rep. Wish me luck. I shall be glad to hear from other reading addicts who need support.

Eileen Hagger-Street
UNISON H&S rep
Barnet College

Barnet ALMO tries to remove Essential Car User Lump Sum.

2008-01-26T17:37:00.000Z

"At the end of 2006/beginning of 2007 I sent out a questionnaire to all members regarding the intention to remove Essential Car User status.

56 members returned the questionnaire,
44 of which were Essential Car Users.
25 of these stated that they had to transport equipment to fulfil their duties.
30 of these said they travelled every working day.

Many were worried about paying their business insurance. 21 members said that they would no longer be prepared to drive their cars during working hours. There were also people who used their cars as an office after site visits. I fed these results back through the correct channels and HR then reviewed the situation. I was quite confident that only new recruits or those changing their jobs would now be affected. However the removal of the Lump Sum has come back to haunt us; with HR planning to remove the status that was initially part of your terms and conditions. I have been promised that meetings will be held with staff to discuss this issue. It is now for you to verbalise the strong comments that you expressed on my questionnaire form. "

Anne Denison
Assistant Branch Secretary Barnet Homes

UNISON National Officer for Schools Guest speaker for our AGM

2008-01-26T17:14:00.000Z

Schools Staff Book Your Seat Now!

We have Christine McAnea National Officer Education speaking about the proposed National Agreement for Schools staff. You will be balloted on the proposals which will have significant changes for your terms and conditions. Come along to hear first hand what UNISON is saying in negotiations with Government.

AGM 6 MARCH 2008

3.30 PM

NORTH LONDON BUSINESS PARK

BUIDLING 2

CONFERENCE ROOM

Call office 0208 359 2088 to book your seat

The 3 R’s

2008-01-26T16:40:00.000Z

Restructure, Redeployment, Redundancy

It is sad but true that all Council staff will face the 3 R’s at least once in any 18 month period! It is therefore important that staff know how to prepare and survive.

(Please note Barnet UNISON don’t always know where and when staff are facing restructures. So make sure you contact the Barnet UNISON office).

Step 1
Firstly, make sure you are a member of UNISON. Don’t wait until you are facing possible redundancy before realising you need help.

Step 2
If you hear that your team or service is going to be restructured, don’t panic. Ask your manager if the rumours are true, if you don’t want to do this then contact your local UNISON rep. If you don’t have a local rep then contact the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 and we will check out the rumour on your behalf.

Step 3
Managing Change is the Council policy dealing with restructures/redeployment, redundancy. There is a copy on the Council’s intranet. It is worth making sure you have access to a copy. If there is a restructure in your team, a number of things should take place. You should be consulted. If you are not being involved and you have raised it with your manager, please contact UNISON office as soon as possible.

Step 4
Consultation: Draft proposals clearly showing the existing and proposed new structure should being presented. Any changes to your job description should be made in consultation with you. At this stage make sure you let the UNISON office know that consultation has begun.

Step 5
In most restructures posts are generally deleted, jobs changed and more often than not staff have to be interviewed for the new jobs.

The Council provide interview skills training to help staff prepare for interviews, make sure you take up this training.

Coping
Restructures can be very stressful to staff facing an uncertain future. The Council acknowledges this and now provides staff with access to free and confidential counselling through an independent organisation ‘People at Work.’ UNISON strongly recommends this service to members.

Remember you don’t have to face these changes alone.

Council Budget 2008/9

2008-01-26T16:32:00.000Z

Every year Council workers face the prospect of redundancy. Blair has gone but Gordon Brown does not bring the change some people felt would be delivered. The message from his Cabinet is 2% to be strictly enforced across the public sector. Even the police are demonstrating about the pay!

What is clear is that no one can take anything for granted. Our message to staff is make sure you take any opportunities for training and development. If you are not getting any opportunities then speak to your line manager. If that doesn’t work then contact the UNISON office. Our Life Long Learning Coordinators are very keen to meet staff to talk about training opportunities. UNISON in partnership with the Council is its second year of training courses BUT we want to run more.

For more details about courses contact carmen.bruno@barnetunison.org.uk
or susan.timthong@barnetunison.org.uk or ring Barnet UNISON on 0208 359 2088

In the case of this years Budget the number of posts being deleted is running at 90 but with vacant posts we are down to approximately 40 staff facing the prospect of redundancy.

A schedule of courses listing dates has been circulated for staff facing redundancy:
1:1 skills set interview with someone from HR
Interview skills training
Preparing your cv
Careers counselling
If you are facing an interview for a job, please take up the offers of these courses.

All staff facing redundancy should be provided a regular update on vacancies within the council. No posts should be advertised outside until redeployees are given first priority to apply.

Consultation meetings are taking place across the areas affected. If you have not had a consultation meeting please contact the UNISON office immediately

Another AVMEG success...........

2008-01-26T12:49:00.000Z

It is a new year and most of us are either setting new resolutions for the year or wondering how we got to where we are at. Most of us get caught up in our surrounding and drift into a routine. AVMEG pulled together an interesting cast of speakers to challenge those ideas at the event held on the 24th January 08.

The event, held in the stylish new conference facility in North London Business Park’s Building 2 and was open to all staff who wanted to access the information.

The speakers at the event were

Sola Dawkins who is a Mentor, Motivational and Inspirational Speaker, Events organiser, talked about ‘Empowering women in the Workplace’ and making anything happen when you set your mind to it.

TD McKenzie who owns and runs a training firm, which specialises in cutting edge strategies for personal and organisational change, treated the audience to some interesting steps that they can take in goal setting and achieving their dreams. Tony is also an author of some interesting books one of which is called You Were Born Invincible’. As an added bonus to those who attended the forum they were given a 6 month free membership to Tony’s Intention Generator T Mind Conditioning System, to help people make those necessary changes and take the 1st step to change.

Tahir Saleem Khan was next in line, speaking about Leadership and the need to take those first steps. Tahir who is currently serving on the board of directors of Asians Network Ltd, runs a new media company in the UK has been consulting on self–management and development strategies across industry and academia.

Rahul Patel was the last speaker, he is the Branch Secretary, Westminster UNISON and has seen his fair share on instructional racism. His work enables him to empower and give staff a voice in the Council. He gave the audience some interesting examples of things that they can do by looking at Councils Workforce profiles and the power of collective action.

AVMEG will have an interesting year a head to assist staff in realising their inner potential. They are hoping to expand their membership over the following months and will be running a range of learning initiatives for its members, namely:

voluntary work-based learning programmes
coaching programmes
mentoring
action learning.

All these programmes are designed to assist staff develop and improve their work-related skills to advance their careers.

However in order for AVMEG to continue in 2008, they are looking for new members to take on roles in the committee to bring fresh ideas and continue to assist staff progress and improve and be apart of the change process in Barnet Council.

To find out more about these projects and what else AVMEG has planned, e-mail avmeg@barnet.gov.uk.

AVMEG membership is open to employees of Barnet Council and its service providers, who define themselves as black or those who are of African, Caribbean or Asian origin.

Wellbeing breaks what are they?

2008-01-26T11:46:00.000Z

UNISON well being breaks can provide welcome relief from the stresses of daily life and the space and time to reflect away from difficult or depressing circumstances. UNISON can help with all or part of the costs of a break depending on your financial situation.
The wellbeing breaks include:
family holidays and outings
get well breaks
breaks in other special circumstances e.g. for carers and following bereavement

The breaks are delivered in partnership with the Family Holiday Association, a national charity that specialises in providing holidays for families in need. For example, they can arrange a stay in self-catering accommodation in a chalet or caravan at selected UK holiday centres.

UNISON’s award winning Croyde Bay holiday village in Devon is a popular destination with members. Alternatively, you can organise accommodation of your own choosing in the UK.
Family holidays

UNISON can provide a holiday for members and their families who are experiencing difficult circumstances and who have not had a holiday for at least four years.
Although the holidays are normally for one week we recognise that family circumstances sometimes mean a shorter break of three or four nights is preferred. We can also help with day trips or leisure outings.

Get well breaks
Get well breaks are designed to support any members, who are recovering from illness (including stress), accident or an operation and who are not in need of nursing care. Get well breaks can include children, or other dependants. We recognise that ill health can sometimes impact on the whole family and that there will be occasions when it will be beneficial for the person who is ill and the whole family to get away together. The service is flexible depending on your needs with a choice of accommodation such as hotels and guest houses or traditional convalescent facilities and shorter breaks.

Other special circumstances
UNISON can also provide respite breaks for carers with day to day responsibility for a disabled dependant breaks following bereavement of a partner or dependant child. for those with a terminal illness.

For more information, including an application form and guidance notes, visit the UNISON website at www.unison.org.uk/welfare/services_getwell.asp, e mail welfare@unison.co.uk telephone UNISON Welfare’s general enquiry line on 020 7551 1620, or contact the branch office and ask for one of the joint Welfare Officers.

Barnet Schools UPDATE....................

2008-01-26T11:35:00.000Z

The New Year has got off with a bang. After two years of battling, finally we have a new job description for nursery nurses. Hooray? Alas no! The new J.D. causes us real concern. The two major issues are, it offers no career progression and is going over to term time only contracts. This is totally unacceptable and an erosion of your terms and conditions. As a result we are running an indicative strike ballot against the new role. So watch this space! We have a huge battle on our hands.

Quite a lot has come in, in terms of casework. Support staff really do bear the brunt of everything, from budgets to behaviour. For your records, even if you are taught how to restrain children safely, the advice from your union UNISON is DON’T. Try every other method, make sure the other children are safe and pass the situation up to your line manager or above to deal with. DO NOT run the risk of harming the child you are meant to be dealing with by restraining them. DO NOT run the risk of another child being hurt as a result of the restraining process. DO NOT run the risk of being hurt yourself. If necessary evacuate the area and pass the issue on. UNISON is really pushing forward with health and safety issues with the Borough for its members.

There are still lots of support staff who are expected to work outside of their job description and not paid fairly for it. Worse still we have discovered yet another school whose support staff are working without job descriptions and on the old pay scales. We are doing a lot of behind the scenes work on this one. Though we approach these on a case by case issue, with the advent of the new negotiation forum for schools (as fought for by Christine McAnea Head of Education in UNISON) we expect this to become a rare occurrence as everyone will enjoy national terms and conditions.

Its not just TAs and nursery nurses needing our support this term, quite a few premises management / caretaking staff are needing our expertise. We have overturned a potential sacking and reached a compromise agreement for another. Two excellent results for those concerned and a lot of sweat and hard work on our part

If you have a concern and want to speak to someone about it. Please contact one of our Assistant Branch Secretaries for Schools

Susan Dunning at susan.dunning@barnetunison.org.uk

Tracey Lowe at tracey.lowe@barnetunison.org.uk

or ring the Barnet UNISON Office on 0208 359 2088

Barnet UNISON building alliances across North London

2008-01-26T11:24:00.000Z

London calling………………

Earlier this week I attended a meeting in north London to listen to the achievements of an organisation called London CITIZENS. It is an inspirational story which gives hope to those of us who remain optimistic in spite of the daunting and relentless attacks facing our society from globalisation. I think it is great we can correspond and report from any part of this planet, but the recent events in the United States and the impact on world markets and ultimately on all of us is frightening.

Now more than at any time we need to organise and that means broad alliances with those of us who share common issues. London CITIZENS is such an organisation. Listening to some of the speakers explain how coomunity groups/charities/religious groups from across all denominations find common ground was truely exciting. I am glad to see that UNISON has been part of their work in East/South and West London. Now it is the turn for North London. The meeting I attended was to look at how we could organise a North London branch.

For more details on London CITIZENS and the work they do go to their website at http://www.londoncitizens.org.uk/

Even better watch their short DVD explaining

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2L9GkyK5ig&eurl=http://www.londoncitizens.org.uk/

(N.B. You may need to watch this on your home computer as your work PC may no allow access to You Tube).

Barnet UNISON members please take note we have two guest speakers

Catherine Howarth – Lead Organiser West London CITIZENS and Rev Paul Nicholson coming to our AGM

Thursday 6 March 2008

3.30 pm

Building 2,

North London Business Park

We are going to vote on whether we should affiliate to London CITIZENS

come along and listen to what they are doing across London.

Ken Loach Film screening with Fremantle Care Workers

2007-12-17T19:53:00.000Z

Fremantle Care Workers were given an opportunity to speak to a packed audience at the East Finchley Cinema. Ken was screening his latest film, 'It's A Free World.....' which tells the story of migrant workers through Angie, a London lass, who sets up a recruitment agency with her mate Rose.

Sadly this film is based on actual events. How long can our society stand by and let the gross exploitation of the migrant work force?

Shock News - Fremantle to close on of their homes

2007-12-17T18:53:00.000Z

Ho Ho Ho...Another Christmas message (no cheer) from Fremantle…..more bad news for staff and residents!

Staff working at Rosa Freedman residential and day care settings were shocked to receive a letter from the Fremantle Chief Executive Carole Sawyers to say that ‘London Borough of Barnet have announced their intention of closing residential services at Rosa Freedman Care home.

It was a big shock to staff working at the setting because only the previous week Carole Sawyers came to give her annual talk about the Future plans for Fremantle in Barnet and made no mention of the closure.

Members are also confused by the involvement of Barnet Council. Until now Barnet Council have claimed that they have no involvement in the matters affecting Fremantle staff. Carole Sawyers’ letter to staff clearly states Barnet Council are responsible for this closure. Fremantle care workers and their UNISON reps have already lobbied the Cabinet Resources committee meeting 6 December 2007, where the decision to close was ratified. Further lobbies are planned. UNISON will be raising this decision through the Councils internal procedures.

Fremantle Care Workers Xmas thank you

2007-12-17T18:51:00.000Z

Barnet UNISON host Public meeting on Individualised Budgets

2007-12-12T21:09:00.000Z

Helga Pile Pat Stack Alan Desborough

On Monday night our branch arranged a meeting on Individulised Budgets (IB) . We invited staff, services users, carers, employers from the private and voluntary sector. It was interesting to note that our meeting cooincided with the government launch of IB

[Full story] http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,2224965,00.html

There is a interesting quote in th eabove article from Gordon Lishman, director general of charity Age Concern, welcomed the initiative but warned: "The project has an ambitious agenda and it will need very substantial funding if it is to deliver what it promises."

If IB means more people will have more choice and increased independence then this will be a great initiative and must be welcomed. What we must look out for is that it is used to cut money and tick boxes. politicians have been known to hijack good initiatives.

After the platform speakers finished the Chair invited contributions from the floor. There was a widwe range of issues raised but the general feedback was support for IB

We finished the meeting with a committment from Barnet UNISON to organise further meetings in the new year. It is important that IB works for the needs of residents living in Barnet and the best way to do that is to engage as many stakeholders as possible.

UNISON reps from other boroughs made a request for a Londonwide meeting on IB as it was felt local branches needed to get involved early in the process.

Superb, delicious, good quality Xmas dinner

2007-12-12T20:18:00.000Z

Some of the Atrium team
Today I had a lovely christmas dinner in the Council run Atrium with some of my UNISON colleagues.

The environment is excellent and it was good to have the chance to have a few minutes away from the hectic UNISON office.

It just goes to show that Council staff can deliver good quality services!

The Atrium for those of you who do not know, only opened a few months ago. Not a lot off staff working in the building know that the Atrium is council run and the other cafe services are private.

I think it is important we support our In House team and not just because they are an In House service but for sound business reasons.

It gives value for money and greater choice.

Every penny spent in the Atrium goes direct into the Council . When you look at the budget settlements for Councils, you recognise why every penny counts in local government.

It also has a good atmosphere, I think it is important that with so many of us working on PCs, staff should take some time away from the computer screen.

So, why not take a break in the Atrium.

The staff team are great !

LABOUR MP condemns 'disgraceful attack upon' UNISON trade unionists

2007-11-20T18:31:00.000Z

14 November 2007 in parliament John McDonnell MP met trade union activists who have been taking action in opposition to the consequences of privatisation
and marketisation of our public services, including Karen Reissmann, Michael Gavan and the employees of Fremantle providing care services in the London Borough of Barnet.

Following the meeting, John McDonnell said;

"The dismissal of Manchester UNISON health service activist Karen Reissmann is a disgraceful attack upon a trade unionist speaking out against marketisation of the health service. The continuing disciplinary action against Newham UNISON Branch Chair Michael Gavan is an attempt to stifle opposition to the privatisation of local government services. TheFremantle workers are combating the consequences of privatisation for their pay and conditions."

John McDonnell MP has tabled an

Early Day Motion 276

(http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34383&SESSION=891)

calling for the reinstatement of Karen Reissmann, the dropping of disciplinary charges against Michael Gavan and the restoration of the pay and conditions of the Fremantle workers, and for the Government to call a halt to the privatisation of public services.

Check out the Early Day Motion 276 and make sure YOUR MP has signed

There will a lobby of MPs and rally in support of all three cases on
Tuesday 11th December 2007
7.30 pm Committee Room 9.

Whats's going on in Barnet UNISON Branch Part Two?

2007-11-20T13:33:00.000Z

Barnet UNISON College team

Cost of living pay increase: Barnet College have said they will respond with something next week, so watch this space !

Moving day (ie. time off for moving house). Barnet College are now saying this has to be taken out of annual leave

Details of revised S188 package and timeline for consultation on next round of voluntary redundancies. Also revised list of posts identified as potential redundancies. So far there has been no further update since our meeting with HR in September

Proposed ACAS workshop: A Joint Trade Union Letter has been sent to the College last week. We are waiting for the Principal to agree a time to meet with ACAS and the College.

Proposed move of Reprographics to central location at GP and proposed outsourcing of service. Margaret Roberts UNISON rep is dealing with Health and Safety issues. We are still waiting for a response to our request to meet to discuss the possible privatisation of the reprographics service.

Pro-rata annual leave after 5 years service- this is the issue where it used to be custom and practice to grant the extra annual leave on the anniversary of 5 years' service, but now HR are saying that it is granted on the start of the next leave year

The potential closure of MR: to date UNISON have not received any update on this from Management

Equal Pay

Recent Equal Pay questionnaire was sent out to all members. UNISON recently announced an Equal Pay claim in Cumbria [FULL STORY] http://www.unison.org.uk/equalpay/news_view.asp?did=3833

PrivatisationWatch

The drive for further efficiencies along with the recently passed Local Government While Paper signals the Governments intent to try and move as much as they can out to the private and voluntary sector.

All Council services are under pressure to deliver quality and value for money. In relation to staff, there is a procedure which needs to be followed. At the beginning staff and the Trade Unions must be involved in the Options Appraisal stage. We are currently involved in a number of procurement processes of services already privatised/ about to be privatised/ retendered / or discussing options

Our list is as follows
Security, Supporting People, Cleaning Contractors, Recycling, Vehicle Workshop, Connexions/Prospects/ Print Unit, Meals at Home / Red Cross
IF you work in any of these or there are discussions about your workplace and your workplace is not on our list please email our office at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

What we don’t need is another Fremantle…..do we?
It is bad for the staff, bad for the service, and bad business for the Council.
http://barnetunison.blogspot.com/2007/11/fremantle-care-worker-rally-10-nov-2007.html

What’s going on in Barnet UNISON Branch Part One ?

2007-11-20T12:59:00.000Z

Pay Award

When are we going to get paid?
I believe that the Council is currently trying to ensure the back pay and the new rate of pay is in this months pay packet!

Council budget settlement
No news yet but word on the corridors is that it could be one of the worst yet…..we will notify/ consult with members as soon as we are formally consulted. In terms of timescales we should hear before the Full Council meeting on 18 December 2007.

NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY:
Just in case it is bad news make sure you hear the news direct from our employers by attending the Council meeting on 18 December 2007.

Restructures
Human Resources
You may have noticed over the last year a lot of change in relation to who you need to speak to in Human Resources. This is because of the restructure which must be one of the longest restructures I have ever experienced. It has clearly had an impact on staff morale. We are coming to the final part of the restructure and hope sometime early 2008 the new look HR service will be in place.

What’s happening in Burnt Oak????

As we all know the Council is moving the majority of it’s office staff into the NLBP complex. However it has always been recognised the need for services in the west of the borough.

Burnt Oak Library is to be revamped and will provide a host of services to the public. UNISON is involved in the consultation and will ensure that our members working in the area are fully involved in the process, the lead UNISON officer for this piece of work will be Tracey Lowe. If you are UNISON member and you have heard you may be working over there and have questions please ring the UNISON office on 0208 359 2088/2083 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Branch Meetings

16 January 2007 12.30 to 1.30 pm in Conference room Building 2 make sure you put this in YOUR diary

Annual General Meeting Thursday 6 March 2008.
It is important that at least once a year you come along to meet your branch officers and listen to what has been done and what needs doing.