Whilst Barnet councillors are reviewing its two contracts with Capita, and further to the long campaign of residents and workers against the outsourcing of most of our council services to Capita, a campaign led by Barnet Alliance, Barnet Unison and the Barnet bloggers, you are warmly invited to hear all about the current state of affairs with regards to these contracts from THE person who is most qualified to scrutinize the contracts and Capita’s performance, and the one who has been following it in detail throughout the years – Barnet blogger Mr Reasonable.

Tuesday 30 November 7-8 pm via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83430400093?pwd=SVcwRTF4Y0Z5bG11NG9PWFZNeVNRZz09

Meeting ID: 834 3040 0093

Passcode: 177260

For the Zoom details and agenda please email barnetalliance4publicservices@gmail.com

Apthorp Care Centre had closed down.

We protested about the rushed vacating of this care home and day centre at the end of October, and flagged not only the dismissive attitude towards dedicated care staff and the risk of losing good care workers, but the risk to the vulnerable residents’ lives if the process of moving from a familiar environment isn’t done slowly and sensitively, with a lot of time for preparations.

At the end of the rushed process many of the dedicated care workers, who stood by the residents during many years and looked after them throughout the pandemic, chose to take redundancy and leave Barnet, because they didn't want to work for such an uncaring employer... The loss is all ours!


We mourn the deaths of former Apthorp Care Centre's residents

We are now saddened to report that the death toll among the former residents of Apthorp rose to 5 in just over 6 weeks. This shocking – and unsurprising – figure should be compared with only 1-2 deaths between January and August.

We continue to demand a public inquiry to determine why was the closure of Apthorp Care Centre done so abruptly and inconsiderately, when the risks should have been known to the decision makers.

Since sending the previous newsletter, a similar case from the 1990s was brought to our attention, in which residents of a Barnet care home were moved to another setting in a rush, resulting in several deaths within days. In this case there was an investigation by the public health authority and a report written about the risks of moving elderly people. One should hope that the Director of Adults Social Services, who ultimately holds the duty of care towards elderly residents, is familiar with such a report.

How you can help

• Sign the petition

• Email us to learn how you can get involved.

Last time we wrote about the latest Sage workers’ strike action, which was part of their year long campaign for decent pay and working conditions. Well, the good news of their victory arrived not long afterwards.

Victory for pandemic heroes as billionaire trustees capitulate at Sage Nursing Home

United Voices of the World (UVW) members, care, domestic and maintenance workers at Sage Nursing home in North London have declared a huge victory after a protracted dispute over poverty pay and decent working conditions.

Care workers, domestic and maintenance staff will receive the London Living Wage, resulting in a minimum pay rise of 11% and all other staff a rise of 5%, as of 1st December 2021.

Read all about it in United Voices of the World trade union website here.

For further and full coverage of these courages workers’ campaign see here.
 

WE APPLAUD SAGE WORKERS AND THEIR UNION UVW!

Is this yet another exercise in pretend public consultations?

Are these plans really aimed at improving Hendon as Cllr Dan Thomas, Leader of Barnet council, claims? Or are they aimed at lining the pockets of yet more developers?

Are the best interests of Hendon residents guiding our councillors?

Is the council listening to us or will it take a Judicial Review to make them sit up and hear the residents?

Here is the latest, from the Barnet Post.

The plans and other related documents can be found on Barnet Council’s website.

‘Quick recap: the previous waste plan draft fell apart in 2012, and the new draft (begun in 2013 and finally submitted in 2019) had so much wrong that the Inspector asked the north London Councils to consider starting from scratch… again.

They chose, instead, to try and fix the draft by making extensive changes (‘Main Modifications’).

But, this report confirms, they've failed to produce the robust changes required - a failure that reveals shocking incompetence and a profoundly compromised attitude to north London’s real needs.’ [Read more]

See new events and activities at this brilliant community project in north Cricklewood here.