Barnet depot workers reject 18‑month backpay offer, council faces strike

Barnet Council’s latest proposal to pay depot workers back for missed holiday pay was rejected on 21 September. The 18‑month backpay offer was put to a week‑long consultative ballot, and more than 90% of participants voted against it. Unison now gives the council a deadline of 9 October to improve the terms, or it will move to a strike ballot in November.

Background to the holiday‑pay dispute

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The disagreement began when the council changed payroll providers from Capita to Liberata about a year ago. Workers discovered that holiday pay for overtime had never been added to their payslips under the previous contract. Unison’s Barnet branch took up the case and secured an initial offer of six months’ backpay, which staff rejected in an August ballot.

Council’s latest offer and ballot result

On 21 September the council raised its offer to 18 months of backpay. The ballot that followed saw a turnout exceeding 90%, the highest level recorded for a depot‑worker consultation. Workers again rejected the proposal, saying it fell short of what they consider a fair settlement for twelve years of missed payments.

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““Once again, the workers felt insulted. They ask to be met ‘halfway’, settling for six years of backpay instead of twelve years.””

John Burgess, Unison Barnet branch secretary

Potential industrial action

Unison’s secretary John Burgess warned that if the council does not present a more acceptable offer by 9 October, the union will declare a dispute and move to a strike ballot in November. He added that industrial action could be seen in December, potentially affecting waste collection and street‑cleansing services across Barnet.

Labour cabinet member for finance Simon Radford said the council is working on a new payroll contract and expressed empathy for the workers. He acknowledged that legacy contract issues had contributed to the problem and pledged to seek a solution that balances past injustices with future service delivery.

Residents should expect the council to publish a revised offer before the 9 October deadline. If no agreement is reached, a strike ballot will be announced in November, and any industrial action could begin in December, potentially disrupting waste‑collection routes in areas such as Finchley, Golders Green and East Barnet.