Council could lose ‘£300,000 a week’ as parking wardens strike, union claims

A council could  lose £300,000 a week as a result of an ongoing strike by parking wardens, a union has claimed.

More than 200 parking wardens and environmental officers across Wandsworth, Richmond and Lambeth, walked out on Monday for seven days of strike action in an ongoing dispute over working conditions and pay.

The three councils use a parking contractor Apcoa, which employs the traffic wardens within the boroughs.

According to GMB, the union for local government workers, the strike comes after workers suffered a “litany” of workplace issues including claims of harassment and intimidation as well as union members not being offered a pay rise for the whole of 2024.

A spokeswoman from Apcoa said: “Apcoa would never condone harassment or intimidation of any colleagues, whether in a union or not. We certainly do not have any evidence to suggest that behaviour of this nature has been directed at any GMB colleagues. If presented with evidence, we will of course investigate the matter appropriately.”

Strike action went ahead on Monday after last-ditch talks failed to end in agreement between the two parties. 

The union says that the strike will cost Lambeth council £300,000 a week in lost revenue.

Alex Etches, GMB Regional Organiser said: “Lambeth council and its leader cannot wash their hands of these workers.

“They are providing an essential public service for the council and it is not their fault they have been outsourced.

“It is clear to us the council is underwriting the cost of the dispute on behalf of their contractor, which leaves us with one question – how is this going to be paid for?

“Would the local residents prefer for this cost to be reflected in their council tax bill or in cuts to their local services, because presumably it’s going to be one of the two.”

A spokesman from Lambeth council said that the borough’s parking services have been operated by Apcoa for years.

He said: “We urge the employer and staff representatives to reconvene talks via the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), to reach a negotiated agreement satisfactory to both sides.”

A spokeswoman from Apcoa said: “After six years of excellent relationships with the GMB in Lambeth, we are now in dispute over a pay claim. We are extremely disappointed that the GMB has decided to strike and would request that they reconvene talks with ACAS as soon as possible and reconsider their demands.

“Whilst APCOA will continue to do all it reasonably can to resolve the situation, the GMB’s irregular actions in these circumstances cannot be justified.”

Pictured top: Parking wardens and members of GMB union outside Lambeth council (Picture: GMB)