COUNCIL workers in the London borough of Barnet announced yesterday a 24-hour strike over plans to outsource their jobs to profiteers.

Social workers, drivers, school staff, librarians and street cleaners voted by 87 per cent to walk out on November 2 because they want to remain in the employ of the local authority.

Public-sector union Unison said that they are at risk of being moved onto zero-hours contracts, being paid below the London living wage and being refused a pension scheme.

“Our members want to work for the council, they want to be directly accountable to the residents of Barnet,” said Unison branch secretary John Burgess.

“Our members don’t want to work for an employer which will have to place the shareholders’ legal demands before local residents’ needs.”

Barnet Council committees are scheduled to decide the fate of staff working in schools, adult social care and children’s centres next month.

• Staff will assemble on picket lines at Barnet House, Mill Hill depot and Edgware Library.