Traffic wardens in Ealing have now gone on strike over Ealing Council-owned Greener Ealing not recognising the civil enforcement officers belonging to the Unite trade union. The action, which started yesterday (27 August 2024), is set to last until 18 September 2024 and has seen workers protest outside Ealing Council offices.
In a statement, Unite said the action “will severely disrupt on street parking, including the monitoring of residential streets where permits are required, and council car parks. Strike action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved.”
The workers were formerly employed by Serco but from 1 April 2024 parking enforcement was brought in-house to the council’s Greener Ealing.
According to Unite, Greener Ealing hasn’t recognised the agreement Serco had with Unite to represent the workers.
Earlier this month, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Greener Ealing’s treatment of these workers is atrocious and will not be tolerated. The company is preventing these workers, who are a distinct working group, from bargaining collectively over pay and other issues. Our members’ have Unite’s absolute support as they strike for union recognition.”
The strike action will impact street parking, including monitoring of residential streets and council car parks.
Unite regional officer Lui D’Cunha said: “Greener Ealing and the council will be entirely responsible for the parking chaos the public will face. There is still time to avoid strike action, but that requires councillors to intervene and force Greener Ealing’s management to sign a recognition agreement.”
In a statement, Ealing Council said: “We are aware that since parking services were transferred into a council owned company that Unite and Greener Ealing have been in negotiation over a recognition agreement. We welcome trade union representation of our workforce and hope an equitable agreement will be reached between the union and Greener Ealing.”
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