On Thursday 9 February staff working for Barnet Council – all members of the public service union UNISON – will be taking strike action as they want to remain employed by Barnet Council. For many, this will be the fourth day of action in response to the Council’s “One Barnet Project” which seeks to transfer the majority of the staff out of the Council.
Barnet Council is in the forefront of local authorities seeking to outsource provision of most of its services to private companies. Core regulatory services such as planning, trading standards, environmental health, and the revenue and benefit department are currently open to competitive bids from private contractors, with the controversial parking service within days of being awarded to a private firm. The total cost of Barnet’s projects looks to exceed £2Billion.
A team of UNISON strikers will leave the pickets lines to donate their labour to the ‘Larches Community ‘ a local Charity in Edgware which provides services for adults with Learning Difficulties.
Laura Butterfield, UNISON Regional Organiser.
“Our members are committed public servants. They are withdrawing their labour from the Council, but do not want to withdraw their commitment to BarnetÕs local community, which is why a team of UNISON strikers will donate their labour to help out a local charity providing services for adults with learning difficulties in Barnet”.
John Burgess Barnet UNISON Branch Secretary said:
“Doing nothing is not an option for our members. I am proud of our members for taking what is always a difficult decision to go on strike. Furthermore their decision to want to go and volunteer at a local charity demonstrates their commitment to their community. I am asking the Leader of the Council to donate all strike pay deductions to the MayorÕs charities.”
Barnet UNISON is asking for the One Barnet programme to be put on hold.
* Council services taking action will be in the following Trading Standards & Licensing, Land Charges, Planning & Development, Building Control & Structures, Environmental Health, Highways Strategy, Highways Network Management, Highways Traffic & Development, Highways Transport & Regeneration, Strategic Planning & Regeneration, Cemeteries & Crematoria; Parking Services, Revs & Bens, Social Care Direct
ENDS