UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis reassured the borough’s members he will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with them in their battle against Barnet Council.
Hundreds turned out to the Barnet Unison AGM yesterday where Mr Prentis told hundreds of concerned members the council “couldn’t cut more and couldn’t care less”.
With cuts to services across the borough and with 350 council workers facing redundancy by the end of the month people expressed their concerns the worst is yet to come.
Mr Prentis said “this must stop” and blamed the council and coalition government for “taking a reckless gamble” with services which affect the most vulnerable including children and the elderly.
He warned the council needs to listen to its work force and its residents “because what it’s doing will destroy public services.”
Mr Prentis added employees need to stand against privatisation which could see services handed over to private companies and organisations as a way to maximise the council’s revenue.
He said he knows “how scared people are” but encouraged members to fight against the council’s “bully boy tactics”.
John Burgess, the head of the Barnet branch of Unison, the public sector union which represents over 3,000 council employees, agreed with Mr Prentis and told members now is the time to make a stand.
He urged members to join him and Unison colleagues on a march to defend public services from cuts and privatisations on Saturday March 26.
The march will start at The Embankment at 11am and end outside the Savoy Hotel in central London but residents can join at Finchley Tube Station and Hendon Station between 9am and 9.15am.
For more information contact www.unison.org.uk/26march or www.barnetunison.me.uk
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