The Barnet Trades Union Council (Barnet TUC) has established itself as the true voice of the Barnet community. It has consistently championed workers’ rights and stood firm against the dismantling of public services. Its activities have successfully unified local trade unions, community groups, and activists, forging a dynamic movement with the power to reshape the area’s political landscape. Read more on london-yes.
Founding and Revival: The Story of Barnet TUC
The Barnet Trades Union Council first took shape when Barnet still had a distinctly industrial character. Its core was a group of dedicated local activists who supported the unions and were determined to protect both vital public services and employees’ working conditions. The organisation served as a vital hub for sharing news, experiences, and views on union activity, while also focusing on broader social issues. However, the TUC effectively ceased operations in the early 1990s, leaving a noticeable void in local civic and trade union life.
A new chapter in Barnet TUC’s history began in 2007. Its formal relaunch was declared at Hendon Town Hall, spurred into action by the Fremantle care workers’ march on 10 November. Following the demonstration in Burnt Oak, a public meeting was held where workers made it clear that their protest was not just about better pay, but about securing their future pension safety and decent living conditions after retirement.
The first full general meeting of the re-established Barnet TUC took place on 22 April 2008. The speakers included representatives from the Fremantle carers’ dispute, the “Hope Not Hate” initiative, and the PCS and RMT unions. The Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils also joined the effort. The meeting resulted in the formation of a new executive committee, which took on the crucial role of coordinating local trade union activities. By 11 November 2008, more than 300 Barnet residents and local council staff attended a public meeting at North London Business Park. During the event, participants debated the council’s sweeping reform and development plans and formulated the trade union community’s collective position on the proposed changes.
The first annual general meeting of the new-era Barnet TUC was held on 10 February 2009. But the real shockwave for the local union movement hit on the morning of 28 August that year. Barnet found itself on the front page of The Guardian, where a feature described the borough as a testbed for a radical, ‘budget-driven’ management approach. Dubbed ‘Future Shape’—and declared as a project to transform the council into a mere strategic centre—it involved outsourcing the majority of key services to private companies. Despite the astronomical sums spent on consultants, it quickly became apparent that there were very few companies in the market capable of delivering comprehensive and stable services on the required scale.
At the second annual Barnet TUC meeting in 2010, the key speaker was Mick Shaw, President of the Fire Brigades Union. That autumn brought a fresh surge of public discontent. On 14 September, Barnet residents, incensed by the policies of Lynne Hillan and the local Conservatives, took to the streets as a united front. Marching side-by-side were trade unionists, council staff, families with children, community organisations, and people who had never protested before. The mass outrage was fuelled by the threat of library closures, the victimisation of employees, and privatisation disguised by the ‘easyCouncil’ model.
Hendon Town Hall
Recognition and Impact of Barnet TUC
Barnet TUC has not only managed to re-establish its presence but has also successfully mobilised workers, the community, and civil society groups. It has consistently and systematically raised issues of racism, social inequality, and human rights, integrating them into the local public agenda. By being an active member of both the Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils and the national Trades Union Congress (TUC), the council has gained official status and is fully integrated into the broader network of trade union structures.
