Barnet workers to ballot over strike for holiday pay

Waste, recycling, and street-cleansing staff in Barnet are set to begin a six-week industrial strike ballot in early November. This action follows their rejection of Barnet Council's final offer to resolve a dispute over alleged holiday pay underpayments dating back twelve years. Unison, the trade union representing the workers, has registered a formal dispute with the council.

The dispute centres on claims that employees were underpaid holiday pay over a twelve-year period while Capita managed the local authority's payroll. Workers had previously turned down an offer of 18 months' back pay at the end of September, stating they would accept six years of back payments. The council maintains it adheres to current legal requirements and disputes that the issue stems from a payroll error.

Formal Dispute Registered

A formal Failure to Agree was noted on Friday, 9 October, after depot workers rejected the council's offer of 18 months' back pay. John Burgess, Barnet Unison branch secretary, told the Barnet Post that the union entered the meeting in good faith but could not say the same for the council. He stated that the council's refusal to offer more than 18 months for twelve years of underpayment left employees with no alternative but to initiate a strike ballot.

The industrial strike ballot is expected to conclude around 19 December. If the ballot results in favour of strike action, waste, recycling, and street-cleansing workers could potentially strike over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Mr Burgess commented that workers do not wish to strike but feel it is the only way to be taken seriously by the council.

A spokesperson for Barnet Council stated that while there is no legal basis for a backdated claim, council officers met with Unison to engage constructively. The council described the meeting as brief, with Unison registering a dispute before significant discussion. The spokesperson added that the 18-month offer was made as a gesture of goodwill, acknowledging the council's financial constraints and responsibilities to residents and taxpayers.

The council expressed disappointment that Unison is pursuing a formal dispute and consulting members on potential industrial action. They affirmed their openness to meaningful dialogue to find a mutually acceptable resolution. Should industrial action proceed, Barnet Council stated it would work to minimise disruption to residents and maintain essential services, keeping the public informed of any impacts or contingency plans.