Strike against One Barnet - SOB

Barnet UNISON Press release: 07 February 2012 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tomorrow, Thursday 9 February hundreds of *UNISON members working for Barnet Council will be taking strike action.

A decision has been made that 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. 

Our members are committed public servants and have this to say 

“We have withdrawn our labour from the Council but we have not withdrawn our commitment to our community which is why a team of UNISON strikers is heading off to donate their labour to help out a local charity providing services for adults with learning difficulties in Barnet!”

What is happening in Barnet is what is likely to happen across NHS services as Private Sector companies fight to win lucrative guaranteed contracts, all funded by the tax payer.

For many of our members this will be the fourth day of action in response to the One Barnet Project which seeks to transfer the majority of the staff out of the Council. The total cost of these projects will look to exceed £2Billion which is why the Big Private Sector Fat Cats are all lined up to try and win the contracts!

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 an help out a local charity demonstrates their commitment to their community. I am asking the Leader of the Council to donate all strike pay deductions to be donated to the Mayors 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, Revenues & Benefits, Social Care Direct

End.

Merda taurorum animas conturbit

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The translation of the Latin heading is "Bullshit Baffles Brains"

The above Strategic Review cost £19,000.

Mr Mustard obtained this report by exercising his right to Freedom of Information - the very right that Cllr Thomas does not like him to use. Given the nature of the information released ( itself only a 5 minute job to find although 22 calendar days later ) I would, if I was Cllr Thomas, be trying to hide it as it is so embarrassing. 

Also today in response to an article in the Barnet Times about tomorrow's strike 

Cllr Thomas also said any savings made from staff wages ( not being paid to strikers ) would be directed into public services. ( is £19,000 paid to Agilisys & Impower a public service or a public disservice? Discuss )

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard 

Strike back against One Barnet -18 October 2011

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Mr Mustard was given this leaflet at the BAPS residents' forum.

Mr Mustard isn't a fan of One Barnet mainly because at present the projected savings are just pie in the sky and so he thought he would assist the cause by bringing the leaflet to a wider audience. When Mr Mustard says the leaflet, he means this identical pair of  leaflets.

Spot the difference - executive version

Regular readers will remember we played this game with the MetPro brochures. Evidently non-stick Nick Walkley enjoyed the game as he has brought out his own version today. Here it is.

Version One given out in the morning.

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and then Version Two in the afternoon.

Eagle eyed readers will have spotted that the first letter contains the threat of an injunction being taken out in the High Court. 

Mr Mustard wonders if that will cost more than the 1/2 day strike itself? This is something he will look at once the dust settles.

Mr Mustard also wonders if it is an example of one of those super-injunctions that are kept secret but no-one told the Chief Executive that this was the case?

As well as the wasted costs of these letters being produced, and the fine job they will have done in turning undecided staff against One Barnet there are all the demented posters ( thank you Vicki for the description - see Vicki's blog here ) that have sprouted overnight all over the North London Business Park ( isn't it a breach of the lease to put posters on the walls? ) and at other council buildings. 

What vast sum has this ridiculous idea cost? and who is going to measure the effect on staff morale? Will it go up or down after a round robin message from the Chief Executive?  

Cllr. Coleman doesn't take note of round robin emails so why should the staff? 

Are posters a recognised management technique? Mr Mustard hears that the staff are spitting nails. Would you dear reader like to see these types of poster everywhere at your workplace? Would they stop you from striking?

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Mr Mustard usually confines himself to finance and democracy and so you will find further information on the blogs of the other famous five Barnet bloggers whose sites are listed on the right hand side of the page. Enjoy.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard