A LABOUR-RUN local authority has halted its use of illegal strike-breaking tactics following union pressure, a Unison branch said today.

Barnet council was accused last week of unlawfully using agency staff to undermine a long-running campaign by the north London borough’s mental health team for the same retention bonus as their colleagues in children’s services.

Unison rep John Burgess told the Morning Star that the authority has since emailed him to say that it would not be using the services of contractor Flex 360.

Union members are still due to begin the next phase of their strike action tomorrow, having taken withdrawn their labour on 27 days since September last year.

Last year, the union defeated the government at the High Court, with judges ruling that legislation that allows employers to use agency workers to replace strikers was unlawful, unfair and irrational.

The union said it had written to Barnet’s chief executive over the use of agency staff.

The council was contacted for comment.