View our video from some Barnet Group workers

https://youtu.be/oSgYVXzrejk

We, the undersigned, note that The Barnet Group is a subsidiary wholly owned by Barnet Council. It now employs nearly 1,200 workers (600 of whom are care workers) and is almost as big as the Council itself.

All of the jobs and services done by The Barnet Group were all once carried out by the Council directly.

These workers worked through the COVID pandemic putting themselves and the lives of their families at risk. A number of them became ill with COVID as a result.

The workers are all on different terms and conditions often for the exact same job.

This creates divisions and inequalities. Very few of the workers are on terms and conditions which resemble the Council terms and conditions and although the Council terms and conditions are hardly generous they are better in all areas than the terms and conditions most of the workers in The Barnet Group have. It means the Council can choose to pay inferior terms and conditions if it wants to.

For a Council which prides itself on promoting diversity and equality it is unacceptable that there are such levels of inequality in the workforce as a whole. It’s time to recognize and support the following:

1.     The Barnet Group workers are good enough to work for Barnet residents on behalf of Barnet Council

2.     The Barnet Group workers should be paid Barnet Council terms and conditions and have access the Council Pension Scheme.