Dates for Next Round of Ealing Parking Strikes Announced
Industrial action set to continue through to November
Parking service workers picket Ealing Council offices. Picture: Unite the Union
October 3, 2024
Unite the Union has confirmed the dates for the next round of strikes by staff employed by Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL) in borough parking services.
The dispute over union recognition has been ongoing since late August and the previous action ran up until 18 September. Now staff will be resuming the strike from next Monday (7 October) until 3 November.
The union says the action will severely disrupt on-street parking, including the monitoring of residential streets where permits are required, and council car parks.
Further industrial action dates will be called if the dispute is not resolved.
Around 40 workers employed by council-owned GEL are unwilling to transfer their union membership to GMB which is recognised by the company. They say their roles are completely different to the rest of GEL waste management workforce. As a distinct group, they want Unite, which has represented the workers for a decade, recognised for collective bargaining on their behalf. Most had previously worked for Serco before being transferred to GEL when Ealing Council decided to take parking enforcement in house.
The union says staff are particularly unhappy with Deirdre Costigan, now MP for Ealing Southall, and council leader Peter Mason, who have previously been supportive but are now refusing to back their call to remain with Unite.
There is additional anger over the employment of agency staff and temporary workers during the strike to continue enforcement. The union claims this is potentially unlawful. Ealing Council did not answer when asked to provide a response on this suggestion.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “It is disgraceful that a Labour council is refusing to recognise these workers’ right to be represented by their long-term union. Councillors’ excuses that Greener Ealing is responsible for this dispute when it is completely owned by the council will not wash.
“Our members have been betrayed by Ealing’s elected politicians and Unite is supporting them 100 per cent in their strike action.”
Unite regional officer Lui D’Cunha said, “Ealing Council’s broken promises and dirty tricks have only strengthened our members’ resolve. This dispute will continue to escalate and strikes will not end until Greener Ealing our members’ chosen union is recognised.”
The council’s position is that this is a matter to be decided between GEL and the union and that it is not the employer of the workforce. It claims that during the previous round of strikes there has been little disruption and measures have been put in place to ensure residents are not negatively affected. A spokesperson also warned that restrictions should be followed as normal as enforcement will be taking place.
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