BARNET Council has hit back at claims it has not engaged with staff as it looks to privatise a number of key departments.

Around 140 people working across a range of departments are set to stop answering call and attending meetings with councillors in protest at plans to outsource the first wave of services.

The council wants to get private sector companies running several services in a bid to save money and make them more efficient under the One Barnet or easyCouncil plans.

Unison leaders say the council has not engaged with staff or allowed them to put forward the business case for keeping many services in house.

But, in a statement this afternoon the council said: “The council has had a One Barnet engagement process in place with the unions for the last nine months.

“This includes a monthly meeting with the chief executive at which the unions are invited to raise any concerns and queries.

“The most recent of these was held on Tuesday of this week, with another meeting already scheduled for April.”

Industrial action will start on Wednesday and include services like planning, licensing, trading standards and cemeteries, although staff say it will not affect the services to the public.