Barnet Council staff went on strike in an ongoing fight over outsourcing plans this morning.

Around 140 Unison members went on strike for the fourth time, in a desperate attempt to stop the council’s plans to outsource staff to private companies as part of the controversial One Barnet programme.

Unison warns that 70 per cent of staff could lose their jobs under the scheme and argues council bosses want to reduce the authority's workforce to just a few hundred commissioning staff.

John Burgess, Barnet Unison branch secretary, said: “In Barnet, there’s a real likelihood services will be relocated outside the borough.

“We are fighting to protect services and for jobs to remain in the borough of Barnet.”

Councillor Daniel Thomas, deputy leader and cabinet member for policy and performance, said: "Previous industrial disputes have seen around 150 staff take action with 95 per cent of staff continuing to work as normal.

"I'm sure staff will work hard to make sure there is little effect to services to residents.

“As I've said before, we are committed to providing high quality services at the lowest possible cost to the council taxpayer.

"Any staff who move as part of the restructure will remain in the local government pension scheme, keep the same level of pay and have a job guaranteed for 12 months at the very least from their move.

"I'm sure many of our residents would envy that level of certainty in the current financial climate."

A coach full of Unison members left the picket lines this morning and are on their way to offer their services to the Larches Community, which supports adults with learning difficulties. The public sector staff will help the charity decorate the centre in Rectory Lane, Edgware.

Mr Burgess said: "This is our members saying we have withdrawn our labour from the council, but not from the public."