Parking Warden Strike in Hounslow Intensifies
Month of industrial action set to begin after other boroughs settle
Motorist may get some temporary respite from Penalty Charge Notices
February 3, 2023
Parking wardens across Hounslow will be stepping up strike action in a battle for more pay. They’re expected to strike from Monday (6 February) for an entire month.
The workers are directly employed by Serco, which manages the contract for Hounslow Borough Council. It’s understood the giant outsourcing company’s latest profits were £303.9 million.
Sharon Graham, who leads Unite – the union supporting Hounslow’s parking enforcement officer – said, “Serco and Hounslow council’s refusal to address the scourge of low pay is shameful. So Unite’s members are fighting back with a month-long strike. The truth is that the London Living Wage is not enough to live on. Serco is hugely wealthy. The Council and its outsourcer have the ability to pay workers more.
“The strike will inevitably mean that parking restrictions across the borough will fall apart. Bosses need to realise the workers have Unite’s total support.”
Strike action has already been avoided in nearby Brent and Ealing. Civil enforcement officers and CCTV operators in Ealing got a 9 per cent pay increase backdated to April 2022 while new starters got a 12pc pay boost. They also negotiated a further 8pc pay increase from April this year and extra annual leave entitlement.
Unite acting national officer, Clare Keogh said, “Unite is the recognised union for the parking attendants in Hounslow. This means they have a right to bargain for better pay. Standing still on poverty pay is not an option. Unite is standing firm.”
Kieron Clarke, Serco’s head of parking services, said: “We have been working hard with our customers and the union to resolve the dispute and are pleased strike action is not in place in Ealing and Brent. We continue to work towards addressing issues in Hounslow but in the meantime have contingency plans in place to ensure a level of service continues to be provided.”
Hounslow Council spokesperson said, “The council remains in dialogue with Serco on this industrial dispute. The council respects the fact that it is for Serco to manage these issues as an independent employer, but key senior officers from within the council will be seeking a meeting with representatives from Serco to discuss dispute resolution, given the impacts on Hounslow residents.”
Megan Stanley - Local Democracy Reporter