Traffic wardens to strike again over pay dispute

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Parking wardens in Wandsworth are set to walk out again next week in an ongoing row over pay.

Drivers are expected to dodge “thousands of pounds” in fines due to tickets not being issued over the strike action, the GMB union has claimed.

The union said it had more than 60 members employed by Wandsworth council’s private parking contractor NSL, and that most have walked out on the strike days.

The union has asked for a pay rise of £5 per hour for the workers.

The wardens have already walked out for 11 days across June and July so far, and are planning to stage a two-day strike next Monday before walking out for five days the following week.

Organisers claim the action has cost the council “thousands of pounds” on the days the wardens have walked out due to tickets not being issued.

The union is calling for the council to intervene in the dispute.

Paul Grafton, GMB regional organiser, said any money “lost due to tickets not being issued falls at the feet of the council”.

He said the contract “ultimately needs bringing back in-house to be council-run” but the immediate priority was to “discuss a sensible pay offer so we can put this dispute to bed”.

He added: “GMB would like to once again ask Wandsworth council how they are planning to make up the budgetary shortfall this dispute is causing – will it be through a council tax hike or by cuts to local services?”

NSL said the wardens were offered a seven per cent pay increase which was “above inflation at the time it was offered”.

The contractor said it remained open to reaching a “realistic settlement” to the dispute.

The council previously said that it has ensured the wardens are paid the London Living Wage and that a “number of offers” have been made which were rejected by the union.

The wardens first walked out for three days from June 20 to 22, and then another three days from June 27 to 29.

They walked out for five days last week, between July 4 and 8, and are planning to strike next week on Monday and Tuesday.

The workers are also set to strike for a full five days from July 25 to 29.

A spokesman for NSL said: “The GMB have refused to negotiate on their unrealistic demand for a 58 per cent pay increase.

“NSL remain open to discussing a realistic settlement to this dispute.”

Wandsworth council has been contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Parking wardens on strike last week in Wandsworth (Picture: Paul Grafton)