We are writing to you as Leader of Barnet Council to urge you to terminate the use of the recruitment agency Imperium Solutions and to sit down with UNISON and end this dispute.
Barnet UNISON mental health social workers have been on strike for 54 days over a ten-month period. They are currently on a nine-week strike ending on Friday 12 July.
On Friday 17 May 2024, in an email to all staff, a senior council officer acting on behalf of Labour controlled Barnet Council announced that they were going to employ social workers to carry out work which would normally be done by our strikers.
“should LBB procure strike cover as described in this letter, it would be procuring the services of an employment business, Regulation 7 of the Regulations would be breached and a criminal offence would be committed under the Employment Agencies Act 1973. As explained above, this would likely also mean a number of ancillary criminal offences are committed by LBB.”
UNISON also wrote to Imperium Solutions (info@imperiumsolutions.co.uk) asking them to pull out of their contract with Barnet Council.
However, as of 5 June 2024, Imperium Solutions are still providing social workers to break our lawful strike action.
We are now in a General Election and The Labour Party has consulted trade unions over their policy called:
. This is an extract:
“The rules around agency workers in breaking strikes were condemned by industry and put the safety of the public and workers at risk. It places unnecessary red tape on trade union activity that work against their core role of negotiation and dispute resolution. Over the past 14 years, the Conservatives have consistently attacked rights at work, including through the Trade Union Act 2016, the Minimum Service Levels (Strikes) Bill and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2022 – all of which Labour will repeal to give trade unions the freedom to organise, represent and negotiate on behalf of their workers.“
The actions of your senior officers are at odds with the above policy.
There is no place across the trade union movement for use of agency workers to break strikes. As the Leader of Labour controlled Barnet Council, we are asking you to urgently stand down the recruitment agency and enter into talks with UNISON.
Signatories:John Burgess Barnet UNISON
Sacha Ismail Member of Unison and the Fire Brigades Union in London Fire Brigade
Nick Ruff Branch Chair Kirklees Unison
Phil Byrne UNISON retired member
Bill Kaye Harringay and Barnet Unite Community
Helen Davies Branch Chair Barnet UNISON
Karen Reissmann Unison GMMH
John McLoughlin Retired Members Secretary, Tower Hamlets UNISON
Glen Williams Sefton Local Government
Michael Walford Stoke-on-Trent Unison rep & international officer
Samantha Evans UNISON - Secretary, Young Members Cymru
Ed Whitby UNISON NEC and National Local Govt Committee, Northern Region and Newcastle City UNISON
Hanna English Bolton unison
Liz Wheatley Camden UNISON Branch Secretary, UNISON National Executive Council
Joe hale Unison swansea health
Tony robertson Barnet Unison repairs
Libby Nolan UNISON
Cath Davis Holding branch
Kevin Corran UNISON Gtr Manchester Mental Health ( NEC rep)
Derek Fraser NEU Manchester school based Representative
Holly Kal-Weiss NEU, Unite
Kofi Antwi Striker
Steve Mckenzie Unite Greenwich, Lewisham and Bexley Community branch
Robert Behan NEU Rep Newham Sixth Form College
Sjaan Heemskerk Unison Essex. Lgbtq+ branch officer
Mike Griffin Central and West London
Healthcare - Treasurer (personal capacity)
Anita West Striker
Ben Jackson Branch Secretary Greater
Manchester Mental Health UNISON Branch
Fred Leplat UNISON
Ian Hodson BFAWU National President
Miranda Crawford Medway Health Branch
chair/Rep/ETD
Linda Benjamin Barnet resident
Mark Findlay Retired Unite member
Dave Putson UNITE GLAB, BR. TREASURER
Jane Bassett NEU
Tony Pierre CNTW/Retired
Ben Samuel Unite LE1111
Anju Paul Union rep and SGE
Inbar Tamari Hackney NEU
Gabby Lawler UNISON Branch Secretary
Sasha Simic Shop Steward USDAW C133 Central Books branch
Rana Aria H&F Unison, Rep, Branch
Comms & Equality Officer
Jon Woods Portsmouth City UNISON Branch Secretary
Karen Buckley Greater Manchester Mental Health Branch - Assistant Branch Secretary
Mike Vaughan Staffordshire General Branch Secretary
Lorna Hood Unison Swansea Bay Health assistant Branch Sec
Claire Wormald UNISON Southend local government. Branch secretary
Shazziah Rock UNISON Sandwell General
Branch Branch Chair
and Equalities Officer and Workplace Convener
Vicki Morris University of Nottingham
UNISON
Mohamed Abanur UNISON Health & Safety
Rep for Capita CSG
Rebecca Townesend Unison steward and publicity officer (job share)
Leeds Unison
Clive Shakespeare Sandwell unison, retired
member
Dan Maguire Unite member
David Hughes Birmingham Branch Officer and Local Government
Service Group Executive
John ingleson UNISON LTHT Branch Chair
David Robertson Leeds UNISON LG Retired
member
Tom Smith ASLEF / Leeds Branch / Assistant Branch Secretary,
District 4 Branch Delegate
Julie Forgan Unison York City Branch
Environmental Officer and NEC
Tirza Waisel SWU, Community
Lora Miller-Jones West Suffolk Council
Jim Knight UNISON Yorks and North East
Environment Agency
Ann Shakespeare Dudley and Walsall unison
health, retired member
Eleni Loukopoulou UCU
Sonay Kuruovali Assistant support worker Barnet
N. Tsaparis Barnet Unison
Des Barrow Hackney NEU President
Nancy Perrin Hackney NEU
John McGrory PCS Leeds & District Revenue & Customs Branch
Helen O'Sullivan Unison - Cardiff County
branch, Deputy branch secretary
Janette Evans Unite community
Pablo Phillips Joint. District and Branch secretary
Vernetta O'Loughlin Equalities Officer Trafford
Metropolitan Unison
Ian Townson Unite Community
Kay Livermore (YCB) Barnet YCB Support Worker
Community Space
Patrick Hunter Assistant Branch Secretary
The Barnet Group
Tom Barker UNISON Leicester City Branch
Paul Murphy Greenwich UNISON Communications Officer
Bev Keenan Unite GM Community
Sarah Miller UNISON Haringey
Patrick Knowles Membership/International
Officer - National Grid Energy Branch
Sally Griffiths UNISON nca health assistant branch secretary
Sonya Dambudzo Barnet
Andrew Kilmister Oxford Brookes University
UCU
Rob Williams NSSN Chair & Unite
LE/1228
Kathy Hamilton Retired teacher
Henry Fowler Strike Map , co-founder
Rosemarie Wilson Ucu retired member
Philip Bradley UNITE
Elizabeth Lawrence UCU Regional Secretary
Yorkshire and Humberside
Olly Unite
/ IWW
David Ball UNISON and NEU, Barnet - school rep
Andrew "Ozzy" Osborne Unite LE/7355E Cambridge
Engineering Branch secretary
Paula Dunne NUJ Oxford & District Branch, Social Media
& Comms for Oxford & District Trades Council
J Huntley
Andrea Egan UNISON Bolton LG
Marie Martin NEU rep
Cathy Crowther Unite Community
Sarah Byrne NEU Hackney
Health and Safety Officer
Nick Marro UWU
Kyle Griffiths Unite offshore fabric
maintenance Branch sc/156 Shop steward/Equalities Officer
Adam Goodger NEU
Steve Jones CWU National Executive
Matt Bernico GMB
Kate Edwards RCN/NHS Workers Say NO!
Geoff Ryan Retired UNISON Health member
Jordan Rivera UNISON branch sec and NEC
Maria Jones NEU rep
Jim McFarlane Dundee City UNISON Branch Secretary
Joanne Jennings UNISON Oldham LG
Aneta Barnet UNISON Rep
David Kaplan NEU Haringey
Craig Jones President Leicestershire NEU
Dan Smart South Glos UNISON branch secretary
Darren Church RMT Norwich Rep
Tyrone Falls Unite University of Bath,
Workplace Rep and Vice-Chair (pc)
Arthur Nicoll Service & Conditions
Dundee City UNISON
Dr Gen Doy
Shirley Franklin UCU
Gary Freeman UNISON South Derbyshire Healthcare Retired Members Secretary (personal
capacity)
Tanis Belsham-Wray Chair Unite NE/403/15
Kevin Jackson UNISON Berkshire Healthcare and Community Branch Secretary
Winmarie Greenland Retired NEU Teacher , Barnet resident.
John Puntis Doctors in Unite
Jean Thorpe Nottingham City UNISON branch chair
Angelo Sanchez UNISON Leicestershire Health Rep
John Dolan Unite Community Enfield branch member and Secretary
of Enfield Trades Council "
Coral Jones Unite member
Amanda Trsta Branch Secretary
Charlene Hackney NEU
Dave Mitchelmore GMB retired member
John Burrows Socialist Party, Portsmouth; TUSC
Kay Denissen Unite the Union
Ishret Damani UNISON Hampshire Branch
Moe Manir Unite Victimised Trade
Unionist
Alexy King UNISON Derby, L. Gov Branch
John Murphy Vice
Chair Gtr Manchester UNITE community
Gary Braddy Unite LE/7385E Branch Secretary
Anjona Roy West Northants LG UNISON and Secretary of
Northampton and District Trades Union Council
Chris Helm
Ekaterina Georgievska Unite member
Flavio Fellica General
Secretary, City Doctoral Researchers’ Association and UCU Member
Jayne Clarke Bolton UNISON LG Branch
Retired member
Ben Singleton Unite NEU Staff -
Environment Officer
Esther Birchall Keyworker ARMS
Sarah Jackson Barnet resident
Andrew O’Leary Branch Sec UNISON Swansea Bay Healthcare
Gary Harbord RMT. Chair of Hillingdon Trades Council.
Carmen Tracey-Ramos NEU Oxfordshire
international officer
Roberto Pozzi Barnet UNISON Health and Safety Rep
Ray Meen Unite Community
Paul McGowan National Chairperson, LGBT+
Socialists
Moyra Samuels UNISON member: Grenfell Health and Well Being Service
Mejdi Lushi UNISON Barnet
Ingemar.e.l.goransson Swedish Writers Union
Anne Richardson Union rep
Cath Lewis Leicester City UNISON, Women’s Officer
Julie Edwards Unite Community Manchester
John Dunn Orgreave
Truth & Justice Campaign
Jacqui Lewis UNISON NCA Health, Branch Secretary
Kate Williams UNISON Wirral LG
Rachel Nolan Socialist
party member (tusc candidate in local elections for Baffins, Portsmouth 2024)
Geoff Taylor TEFL Workers’ Union (IWW) /
UCU Southern Retired branch
Jane Doolan Branch Secretary Islington UNISON
George Binette UNISON/Camden Local Government, former branch secretary, chair of retired
members comm
V. Powell YCB
Lois Founds Wirral UNISON
Linda Ingram UNISON Ceredigiom (retired)
Hilda Palmer Unite/ 6 389 Hazards
Campaign
Fiona Monkman Branch Chair Islington UNISON
Mattia Narciso Housing Options Steward
Julie Love UNISON health & safety officer
Peter Blackman NEU Ealing -Assistant
Headteacher
Janet Newsham Hazards Campaign Chair /
Coordinator Greater Manchester Hazards Centre
Teige Matthews-Palmer University and College
Union.
Siobhan Tierney Unison member & NHS
worker
Paul Kershaw Unite / LE1111 (housing
workers) Chair
Sarah Littlewood Hull Local Government
Branch
Hugh Jordan Barnet
UNISON Branch Health & Safety Officer
Gawain Little General Secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions
Jeffrey Till CWU
Damien Frettsome Branch Secretary, City
University UNISON Branch
John Stuttle Father of the Chapel, Unite
at the Guardian and Observer
David Oladele Unite Housing Workers
Branch LE1111
Bill Smith Chair Alice Arnold Unite
Community Coventry and Warwickshire. Retired NEU
Mira Glavardanov Unite Community
Jill Pack Haringey & Barnet Unite
Community
Adrian Kennett Branch secretary Hull City Branch
Terry Morgan Radical Poster Collective
Jakub Kozlowski Street Scene Convenor /
Health & Safety Rep Barnet Unison
Priya Khatun Striker
Sam Kelly NUJ
Rabbi Jeffrey Newman Barnet resident
Tony Cisse Branch Treasurer Lewisham
UNISON local government
James Robinson Knowsley UNISON
Neil Rogall UCU London Retired
Karen Kiil St James Church New Barnet
Liz James Barnet Unison
Paula Carlyle Knowsley UNISON
Léo Karran Unison, Sheffield community
health, young member and labour link officer.
Beverley Berrick Assistant Branch
Secretary for Schools
Barnet UNISON.
Dave Wadcock UNISON retired member former AMHP
Swansea Unison branch young members officer
Laura Alvarado
Alan Cunningham Unison North Lanarkshire,
Steward
Pamela Bayman Volunteer and concerned
family member of sometimes user of the service
Robert Bayman
Madelaine Sommers UNITE member
Oscar Belmonte Unite SE/6246
Kate Howlin NEU
Jo Turner Unite community
Ana Castano UCU member
William Lim Cooperation Town
Tim Cooper Nottingham
East CLP TULO
Katie Swanson Social Worker & Barnet
UNISON Member
Hafso Omar Ali
Mick Calvert Huddersfield Community branch Secretary
Simon Hewitt UCU,
Leeds
Lucy Cox Brent NEU
Ian Clements "Unite Housing Workers Branch LE1111Chair Hounslow Trades Union Council"
Antony Randall Unison steward Libraries
Ron Cohen Local
resident and CWU member
Kerie Anne Branch Secretary Tower Hamlets UNISON
Sherril Johnston Barnet Unison Health & Safety Rep
Shahid Anees Chaudri
Joseph Larkin IWGB member.
Jacqui Jones Barnet UNISON rep.
John McDonnell UNISON
Stuart Jordan East London Mental Health
Unite H&S rep
Morag Gillie Chair of Homes for All UK
Hassan Ortega Chair UNISON Salford City Branch
Theresa Rollinson Former 90days Care UK
striker
Sheila McGregor NEU retired member
Dean Ryan: Islington Unison shop steward
Julia Mountain Unite
Community
Declan Clune Southampton & South West Hampshire Trades Union Council. Secretary
Steve North Vice President, UNISON
Lorna Solomon UNISON member (Homerton Hospital)
Jenna Hunter Barnet
Francesca Venting
Peter louis Barnet supervisor
Michelle Burke Unite
Chris Rooney Unison
retired member.
Josie Ryan
Abraham Bickersteth Barnet Unison Housing Rep
Dan Sartin UNISON
Nathalie Birkett Unison NEC
Joanne Tapper UCL UNISON Branch Secretary
and National Executive Council
Emma Omijie unison cvob member/ community link worker/ and
supported by barnet MHSW as a disabled resident.
Karen Campbell Health & Safety Rep Barnet Unison
Mandy Buckley Unison Birmingham Local
Government Branch
Christine Collins Unison LG Bolton assistant
secretary
Joe Finlayson Unite
Mark Fisher UNISON
Said Local activist with anti-imperialist front london
Vincent Charles Unison Bedfordshire Health
Care.
Tareq Khamis Unite
Elaine Jones UNISON
branch secretary and UNISON NEC
Jon Berry Former Secretary Herts NUT.
Former Secretary UCU University of Hertfordshire
Hayley lynch
Lyn Marie O'Hara UNISON NEC
Lord John Hendy KC
Helen Gleeson Middlesex University UCU
Nikki Osborne UNISON Hull Convenor
Chris Brownhill
Joe McCluskey Secretary North Staffs
Trades Council
S Jordan Unite member
Julia Mwaluke Unison Vice-President
Amanda Brown Unison Dorset Branch
Matthew Ratcliffe UNISON Hillingdon LG
Karen Bainbridge School steward Essex
Helen Grisdale Retired - was a member of PCS
Maggi Myland Barnet UNISON
Dave Holes Unite Community
Sara Evans Unison Welfare Officer
Graeme Johnson Unite (retired)
Gordon White Ex NEU County Secretary
Adam Colclough
Dave Barnes TSSA
Network Rail London South Branch Chair
Vic Goodwin Assistant
Secretary Staffordshire
National Education
Union
Dodie Ritman Unite Community Branch.
Manchester
Mejdi Lushi Barnet UNISON
Diane Fraser Southend
Margaret Remana Goldsmiths UCU co-president
Alison Hann UNISON
- Bristol LG
Janet worth Ex unison branch secretary retired
Ann Joss Regional Organiser RMT
Mark Sage UNISON
Portsmouth City Branch International Officer
Helen Alford Barnet Unison - retired social worker/AMHP
Roger Bannister Knowsley
Roger Hutt Unison
Khalid Sidahmed UNITE Equality Officer
Louise McDermott Unison LG branch
Jackie Lederer Unite Community Portsmouth
and District Branch Secretary
Neil Vince Unite the Union
Sasha Kaplin Psychotherapy
& Counselling Unionr
Frazier Stroud Barnet Unison.
Valerie Bossman-Quarshie Former Equalities Officer [Barnet UNISON Branch]
Nilofer Alauddin PCS
Kait Duerden UNITE
caroline Powls Brent Unison
Marc Scheimann Unite Disability Rep
Tom Walker CWU Branch Secretary Northern Home Counties Postal
Branch
Tanya Tomlin Barnet UNISON
Ellen Carter Barnet resident
Katherine Benford Barnet Unison rep
Sarah Bourne Unison retired member and
local resident
Shereen Taha Barnet UNISON
Justine Canady Unison Lewisham Local Government.
Eileen Marginson
Janet Leifer Barnet resident
Mark Inch
Lesley Spillard Retired member, Unite
Pam Wortley Unite
Samantha Mason GMB
Pam Lockie Retired SW
Alan Wylie Islington Unison
Anna Livingstone Barts Health Unite
treasurer
Christopher Blount Sheffield Solidarity Group
Emily Fawcus UCU, Retired Member
Ollie Creed Newham
Noeleen Grattan Unison Retired Member
Haringey
Elizabeth Smith Barnet Resident
Kingsley Abrams Chair, Unite London Area
Activists Committee
Carmel Cadden Unite Community -Haringey
& Barnet - environment officer
Noah Birksted-Breen Queen Mary University of London UCU
Parus Shah IWGB
Nic Lee
Connor Rothwell NEU Manchester
Liz Thomasson UNISON M.H Soc Worker.
North Yorkshire Council
Brad Grisdale UCU
Louis Smyth Retired union member. Labour Party member. (Islington) -
Pat Jones Former lead steward, adult social work, Kirklees Unison
Chris Parkinson CWU
Kieran James Paterson UNISON GLR YMF – Chair UNISON NYMF -
Equalities Officer,Southgate & Wood Green CLP - Joint Trade Union Liaison Officer"
Matthew Lee UCL UNISON, Young Members' Officer
Suddaf Awan Unison member
Sam Barry Education officer and Convenor. Salford city
Unison.
Nathan Godfrey Salford City Unison
Victoria Key UNISON Salford
City Branch - Housing Options Representative
Richard Holland Salford City Unison
Ameen Hadi Equalities Officer, Salford City Unison
Lisa Millar Salford Assistant branch
Secretary
Sarah Roelofs Berwick
Trades Councl Secretary
Simon fox Treasurer, Salford City
unison
Josie Tothill CaSWO and Unite
Stephen Omisa Barnet unison
Sandra Carney Barnet Unison Member
Clementina Labinjo Barnet UNISON Steward
Wendy Roach Barnet Unison
Daniel stringer Unison member barnet
Karen Blackwell Unison member, Hammersmith
& Fulham
Ruth Nyman UNISON/Barnet
LG/Volunteer Administrator
Zoya Economou Unison
Nimisha Trivedi Carmarthenshire Unison
Tom Fisher Unite
Kerry Wade Salford City UNISON Branch Women's Officer;
Supported Housing Steward
Bahir Laattoe Barnet Trades
Council and NEU
Susan Olech USDAW H088 Chair
Angie Hudson Retired Unison member, Barnet
resident, ex Barnet Social Work Manager.
Keith Dobie Haringey & Barnet Unite
Community Branch
AJ Le Brun RCT Trades Union Council
Branch Secretary.
Leonardo Alvarado
Neil Camden Unite
Mike Walsh Barnet voter
David Lloyd UNISON Stoke-on-Trent Local
Government / Branch Secretary
Julie Lawton UNISON Staffordshire
Community Health Branch
Justin Ashton Stoke on Trent
UNISON Convenor.
Joseph
Giovanna Potts UNISON
John Bolgar Barnet
Voter
Julia Veros Carer UVW
Corinna Edwards-Colledge Joint Branch Secretary,
Brighton and Hove UNISON
Simon Birch UTAW
Kathleen Hall Enfield NEU
Kirsty Morrison
Jane Turner Parliamentary
candidate for Wallasey (Green Party)
Maggie Fricker Southampton UNISON health
branch
Mary Sexton Striker
Alison Bayne Unison
Pete Webster Unite LE/00020
Giovanna Potts UNISON member
David Epstein Barnet Unison Rep
Michael inness Australian manufacturing
workers union
Parus Shah IWGB
Floyd Major Unite the union / retired
Dan Goss United
Tech and Allied Workers Branch, CWU
Pauline Riley Barnet unison care team
leader
George Gray PCS
EFRA London & South East
Sam O'Brien Communication
Officer Rochdale UNISON LG branch
Sam Habeeb Ealing North Candidate
Stephen Allan Beck NEU Warwickshire
Tom Bayman Unison
member
David Savage Unison
Elizabeth Bailey Co-chair National Young
Members Forum
Tricia French Unite
Allan Carlton Barnet
Pete Davies Chair
Cardiff County Unison
Emma Richards UNISON Cardiff County LG
branch
Amanda Brown Dorset
Danielle Vipond UNISON Wirral Branch,
Deputy Branch Secretary and NEC member
Pauline Riley Barnet unison- care and
support Team Leader
Martyn Madeley Green Party Councillor,
Unite Union member
Emily Perdue Unite Cambridge University branch
Sophie Watson UNISON Glasgow University
branch chair
Paul Power Secretary
Haringey TUC
Ed Harlow NEU
- Junior VP elect - Haringey branch secretary.
Patrick Knowles UNISON National Grid Energy
Branch International/Membership Officer
Richard Bagnall-Oakeley Psychotherapy and
Counselling Union (Executive Committee member)
Neil Bland Suffolk County Secretary
deputy convenor, SGE, NJC
Eve Miller Young Members Officer and
Treasurer at UNISON George Eliot Hospital Branch
DEL SCOTT Havering Unison. Rep. health and safety rep Green
rep.
Allan Newby Barnet Unison
Holly Unwin Mental health social worker
central southampton
Nandita Lal Independent Socialist
Candidate for Tottenham
Paul Renny Haringey UNISON Schools Convener
Annette J Jarrett London Renter's Union
Christalla Tsattala UNISON Steward
Caroline Lenoury Unite LE/0334M
Zarria Phillips Bath TUC Unite Community
Lauren Holder NHS Clinical Lead
Ben Jackson Greater Manchester Mental Health UNISON Branch -
Branch Secretary.
Dave Statham GMB Holborn