message on eve of TBG 24 hour walk out - from the Barnet Green Party

 

As Trade Union Liaison Officer for Barnet Green Party, I bring solidarity greetings from over 1,000 local Green Party members across our borough.

To the Barnet depot workers: many of you have been watching the Birmingham bin strike closely. I stood on the second Birmingham megapicket alongside Barnet UNISON. I have stood with your previous strikers at Mill Hill Depot and outside Barnet House. I have written publicly about the important role drivers and depot workers play in keeping Barnet running.

Your fight matters.

Every worker knows that when things go wrong, it is the people on the front line who are expected to pick up the pieces. Yet when decisions are made, it is too often executives, consultants and senior managers who get the final say.

Barnet Green Party believes your workers rights are political and no Thatcher era law can stop you from caring about the political demands of all workers in local government and in the public sector.

To the workers of The Barnet Group: congratulations on smashing the turnout threshold and winning a strong mandate for action.

Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly.

Workers vote to strike when they feel they are running out of options.

You have sent a clear message that enough is enough.  

I also bring this message of solidarity from the Chair of Barnet Green Party:

"In the May Local Elections, we pledged to strengthen public services, bring more services back in-house, and support workers across Barnet. Barnet Greens stand in solidarity with workers fighting for decent pay, decent pensions and decent conditions. When workers stand together, they can shift power. Your industrial action is about fairness, dignity and the future of the services Barnet residents rely on every day. We call upon Barnet Council to arrive at the negotiating table and properly engage with your demands. What does not help the bees ultimately does not help the hive, so it is vital that the people who keep our services running every day receive dignity and security in work."

Our Councillor said,

“I don’t think I can overstate how much respect I have for you all and the bravery of your votes to take strike action. I know how hard you all work and how thankless it is, especially when you feel like you’re shouting into the void just to achieve the most basic of asks. But I am listening and I hear you.

I have a family member in the care of Your Choice Barnet, so this is personal for me too. People need to know how bad things are and how you on the frontline are holding everything together despite the system being so fundamentally broken. The least you deserve is fair pay and conditions.

Thank you for all you do and for standing up for workers everywhere. I will always have your back. Solidarity to you all.”

Cllr Charli Thompson

To every worker balloting, organising, striking, speaking up or standing alongside a colleague: you are not standing alone.

Barnet Green Party stands in solidarity with your fight for dignity, respect and justice at work.