Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Voice 2008
July
“2.45% won’t even buy much food in Lidl.”
Dave UNISON Rep
ʺUNISON is here for me ʺIf you have a Union that stands up for
and I am here for my Un‐ you, then you should support them, I am
ion. I am struggling like proud my union is fighting to get us all a
everyone else to cope with fair wage. Of course I am concerned with
the increase cost of living. the increasing cost of living, maybe 2.45%
We must get a decent is ok if you are on £60,000 but it is nothing
wage that is why I am on if you are on £15,000! I am worried for the
strike today.ʺ winter, how am I going to sleep at night if I
can’t afford to put on the heating!”
Kofi is a Civil
Enforcement Officer Julie is a security collection officer
(Parking Attendant) & UNISON Rep
Barnet UNISON Your Friend at Work
Barnet UNISON Voice Page 2
Paul is the GMB Convenor
“I can’t take my dog to the vets – I
can’t afford it!”
Anne ,
Assistant Branch
Secretary
Barnet Homes
“Local Government workers are always ‘put
down’ because we work for the public, WE
DO CARE but CHARITY begins at home.” HENDON LIBRARY PICKET
UNISON member
“This Government is particularly good at lecturing people
“We are teaching assistants in a local about ‘social responsibility’ and ‘accountability’ and yet
school. We are under valued and feel a refuses to review the absurd situation of issuing poverty
pay rise offered of 2.45% is below the pay to hundreds of thousands of public sector workers per‐
rate of inflation and we are worth forming vital services to our communities whilst letting
more than that!” billionaires off the hook when it comes to collecting taxes.
UNISON members It rewards financial speculators who have made disastrous
decisions endangering the entire economy. What does this
ʺIt is quite simple we say about how the Government respects public sector
are falling further and workers and the services they provide not to mention the
further behind infla‐ public who receives these services? I would say to all our
tion we had no option members sometimes people only show respect and give you
but to back our Un‐ what you need when you ask and fight for it.
ion’s call for strike Don’t give up.”
action. I am also wor‐ Helen Davies Branch Chair
ried about the talk
about the future for
all Council workers in Barnet. I was around “2.45% is a Pay cut in any‐
when we had CCT and from what I have one’s language!”
seen so far we seemed to have learnt nothing Beverley Miseroti
from the disasters of CCT. ʺ Nursery Nurse
Angus is Assistant Branch Secretary St Margaret’s School
(JOB SHARE) for Environmental
Services
Barnet UNISON Voice Page 3
“We are essential car users, and the price of petrol is increasing more and more! The pay offer is not enough! I am
concerned over the plans for the future shape of Barnet Council. Standards and employment are at risk. They
want to cut costs, and this will be through squeezing our salaries!”
Care worker, social worker and CCO
“It’s the lower paid members
who will be most affected. “I am newly qualified. Most social
The offer is disgraceful! It is workers have a degree these days, and
so hard to live in London – debt is an issue. It is going to take
the price of housing and seven years for me to pay it off.”
mortgages especially.” social social worker
worker
PB – “I’ve got a 21 year old
All three members are teaching assistants in son to support.”
an infant school. None of them are full time CM –“My daughter works
and none of them could afford to lose two in Marks and Spencer and
days pay. BUT the impact of year on year earns more than me.”
pay cuts meant they felt they had to send a
“It’s unfair that we get a pay rise be‐
Both – “We do a difficult low inflation. How are we going to
message to Gordon Brown that it is simply and important job, but
not good enough! support our families? I am walking to
this goes unrecognised work at the moment! You can walk
unlike teachers or the po‐ and get public transport, but it is
Just like TAʹs around the country they work
well beyond their contracted hours because lice. It seems that all we much slower and sometimes you
they love the kids and they love the job. But get is negative press.” can’t get where you want.”
they have to pay bills like everyone else. Claire Montgomery and “Every month half my wages go on
They just want a Fair Wage. Pat Braine – rent. We’re on low pay. I’m consider‐
ing leaving my job because I can’t
social workers
ʺThe offer from the Government is derisory, afford it!”
it’s a pay cut, what does 20p an hour mean Teaching assistants from
to me?ʺ Finchley Catholic School
TALES FROM THE PICKET LINE…………………..
“We believe that we “I think it’s bad for me individually and for the services. In the wider con‐ “I’m just covering the
deserve more than 2.45% text a 2.45% pay offer does not reflect the effort and commitment for a 4 rent as it stands and I
as qualified staff we star service.” am supporting my wife
should be valued and this Tom Mahoney – social worker who is a student.”
should be reflected in our
pay. How can we main‐ “I believe we offer a fantastic service for Barnet residents I work in Housing Benefit
tain our professionalism Housing Benefits the offer of 2.45% is below inflation. We are worth more Advisor
when we feel so than that.”
disillusioned.” Kay Perdikou – UNISON rep
Childs Hill School
“I’m already feeling the pinch. We depend on our cars to do visits. If we are forced to start using
staff
public transport due to the price of petrol, it will take us longer, and that means fewer visits. That
will effect the service.” ‐ social worker
“Public sector workers
have made massive “If you devalue the staff, you de‐ “I worry about the cost of
savings for the govern‐ value the profession. Investing in living, especially with the
ment over the last few a stronger workforce promotes cost of petrol for our cars.
years and are now ex‐ positivity and a better service.” We are subsidising the
pected to give as good a Kate Moore – social worker council!”
service with fewer re‐ social worker
sources. I support the BARNET HOUSE PICKET
strike because I believe it Why I am on strike “It’s the pay for the work we do that bothers me.
is unfair for US to see so “I work at a special needs school. The pay is not They talk about teachers, police and health work‐
little financial recognition great but the work although challenging is ers, but they never consider social workers. Yet we
for so much effort and to good. The pay could be better and below are the ones who get castigated! The government
support those staff even inflation increase is just not valuing our work sees us as bleeding heart no good liberals!”
worse off than myself” so some time you just have to make a stand.“ Social Worker
Hari ‐ UNISON Rep Louis Smyth UNISON REP & “I am striking in solidarity for the lower paid.” ‐
Customer Services Teaching Assistant social worker
“What I’m concerned about is the lower paid workers in the workplace. Food, mortgages, petrol – how can they afford this when
inflation is higher than the pay offer? I think the public service is always the scapegoat. Here in Barnet there are 9000 of us, and
we seem to always be underpaid.”
social worker
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Published by Barnet UNISON
The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Barnet UNISON.
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