Ealing Trades Union Council has written to all Ealing Labour councillors in a bid to end the dispute over Ealing Council-owned Greener Ealing not recognising the Unite union which its civic enforcement officers are members of.
The traffic wardens strike action, which started on 27 August 2024, was originally set to last until 18 September 2024 but is likely to continue into October 2024.
The strike action includes monitoring of residential streets and council car parks.
Ealing TUC secretary, Oliver New, said: “Greener Ealing is wholly owned by our elected Ealing Labour Council, but instead of talking to the union about this strike, they have provoked it. It’s an all out ongoing strike which could have serious consequences for traffic and road safety.”
Mr New added: “We have written individually to every Labour Councillor calling on them to urgently settle this dispute and recognise the union that these workers have belonged to for 10 years.”
The workers were formerly employed by Serco but from 1 April 2024 parking enforcement was brought in-house to the council’s Greener Ealing.
In his letter to the Ealing Labour councillors, Mr New said: “The last meeting of Ealing TUC was concerned to hear details of the dispute between the Unite Union and the Council owned Greener Ealing Ltd. We know that you are generally supportive of trade unions and will understand that in their day to day work, Civic Enforcement Officers may be subject to complaints and even hostility from members of the public. It is understandable that they do feel the need for legal as well as employment protection by their union of choice.
“These staff members have belonged to Unite the Union for 10 years and we are disappointed that Greener Ealing, which is wholly owned by the Labour led
Council, is refusing them union recognition.”
Days before the strike started, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Greener Ealing’s treatment of these workers is atrocious and will not be tolerated. The company is preventing these workers, who are a distinct working group, from bargaining collectively over pay and other issues. Our members’ have Unite’s absolute support as they strike for union recognition.”
A Greener Ealing spokesperson said the strike action has had “minimal impact”: “GEL has a recognition agreement with the GMB. We have explained repeatedly to the Unite representatives that we will not recognise them for collective bargaining purposes. We have now reached an agreement on pay and conditions with the GMB for the entire workforce. Parking staff are also benefiting from a range of improved terms and conditions
“The strike itself has had minimal impact with a small number of parking staff taking part each day. The service is operating well and meeting the council’s priorities.”
In a previous statement, Ealing Council said: “We are aware that since parking services were transferred into a council owned company that Unite and Greener Ealing have been in negotiation over a recognition agreement. We welcome trade union representation of our workforce and hope an equitable agreement will be reached between the union and Greener Ealing.”
