Barnet Unison | Workers’ Freedom

From May 4-6 Barnet Unison members of the adult mental health social work team struck for 36 days in their current dispute. More strikes are planned.

At least 21 out of 28 staff from two social work teams and licensed mental health professionals have left in the past 20 months, with stress levels greatly increased for those (mostly less experienced) social workers who remain. High staff turnover and stress levels and long waiting times can make service unreliable.

The strikers are demanding retention bonuses of between 15% and 25% of their wages – the same as currently paid to Barnet’s social workers who work with children and their families. After years of real terms pay cuts nationally, Unison’s Barnet branch sought to localize pay struggles without moving away from the national pay structure.

Branch officers negotiated retention bonuses for Family Team social workers and HGV drivers in the refuse collection service.

The twin concerns of worker pay and quality (safety!) of service are at the heart of the dispute. The service waiting time is more than a year, sometimes more than 17 months.

Solidarity efforts by the union movement have included two fundraising events organized by Unison youth members in London, but strikers need more support.

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