Agency Staff 'Enforcing Ealing Borough Parking Restrictions'
Serco taking strike busting measures according to Unite
'Parking free for all' may not be happening in Ealing borough
A traffic warden strike that threatened a “parking free for all” in Ealing is being countered by agency staff drafted in to cover their work, a union has said.
The wardens, employed by Serco, began their strike against their employer with a rally attended by Labour MP Virendra Sharma outside Ealing Town Hall on Wednesday 30 June.
Unite the Union claims agency staff have now been brought in to enforce parking restrictions while Serco’s Ealing staff are striking.
The industrial action is being taken over offers of severance to union member parking wardens, and Serco’s refusal to negotiate a new absence policy, Unite says.
“Some progress” has been made in talks with Serco, a union spokesperson said today, but “there are still outstanding issues”.
“Some policy changes are still needed. Until that, strikes continue.”
Ealing Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the dispute is between Serco and its workers.
Peter Mason, the leader of Ealing Council, said, “Ensuring workers are treated fairly remains a commitment for the council.
“We hope this can be resolved amicably via Acas and are monitoring closely while working to secure a resolution on this issue as a matter of priority.
“I look forward to meeting civil enforcement officers soon to understand more the impact of COVID, lockdown and industrial action has had on them.”
Unite regional officer Clare Keogh said at the beginning of the strike, “The parking free for all in Ealing over the next two weeks is entirely Serco’s fault.
“It is to be hoped that during the Acas talks, Serco will table proposals that our members can agree to and this dispute can be brought to a close.
“As a Labour council, Ealing council should be condemning Serco’s union-busting tactics and pressuring them to stop.
“If Serco refuse, then the council should follow Labour policy and bring the civil enforcement contract back in-house.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Serco for comment.
Josh Mellor - Local Democracy Reporter
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July 6, 2021