UNISON is expected to launch legal action against Barnet Council in north London after it defended outsourcing during a strike by mental health workers.

The Labour-run authority failed to confirm by today, the deadline set by the union, that it would not procure external workers to cover for striking staff, said Barnet Unison secretary John Burgess.

Speaking on the 48th day of walkouts over a disparity in retention pay between mental health workers and their colleagues in children’s services, he told the Morning Star: “Outsourcing and strike breaking are the two big no nos in the trade union movement and should be in Labour’s.”

The union had asked the council’s chief executive to provide the confirmation in writing, reserving its “right to notify the relevant authorities of any potential criminal offences and also to seek relief via the courts, including injunctive relief through judicial review proceedings.”

The authority said it was acting “within the law” to meet resident safety and statutory responsibilities during the strike.