Traffic wardens in Ealing are to begin further strike action this week over what they say is Ealing Council-owned Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL) refusing to recognise civil enforcement officers belonging to the Unite trade union.
The dispute has also impacted the local Labour Party in Ealing with members calling on the Labour-run council to recognise the Unite workers.
The action, which starts on Wednesday (12 March 2025), is set to last until 12 April 2025 and will see workers striking and protesting outside Ealing Council offices.
The workers were formerly employed by Serco but from 1 April 2024 parking enforcement was brought in-house to the council’s Greener Ealing and first began industrial action in August 2024. According to Unite, Greener Ealing hasn’t recognised the agreement Serco had with Unite to represent the workers.
In a statement, Unite said: “Their roles are completely different to the rest of Greener Ealing’s waste management workforce. As a distinct group, they want Unite, which has represented the workers for over a decade, recognised for collective bargaining on their behalf.
Earlier this year, in January 2025, a motion was passed by the Ealing Central and Acton Labour constituency party in relation to Greener Ealing and their choice of union of recognition.
In the motion, which has been seen by EALING.NEWS, it said:
“This CLP notes:
– Parking enforcement workers employed by Greener Ealing (GEL), a wholly owned trading
company of Ealing Council, have been on strike since 27 August 2024.
– A key demand is recognition for their chosen union, Unite.
– Unite has represented these workers for the last decade and had been recognised by
private contractors prior to the workers being brought into GEL in April 2024.
– GEL has refused to recognise Unite, insisting on only recognising GMB.
“This CLP believes:
– Workers have a right to choose their union. Failing to recognise workers’ chosen union is
against the principles of the labour movement and our party.
– This case undermines the ability of all workers to be legally represented by their chosen
union, fostering an environment where workers are more vulnerable to exploitation and
abuse.
“This CLP resolves to:
– Call on Greener Ealing and Ealing Council to recognise Unite and meet the strikers’
demands;
– Call on Ealing Council to commit to recognising workers’ chosen union as policy across the
council and its subsidiaries”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, a Greener Ealing spokesperson said: “GEL has a single recognition agreement with GMB union which has served us well for the past 5 years. We have no wish to change this.”
They added: “We have not dismissed any staff for any reason connected with taking strike action. Any suggestion of “trumped up charges” is a total misrepresentation of the facts.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The targeting of our members at Greener Ealing is union-busting plain and simple. An attack on one is an attack on all and Unite will not rest until Ealing council reinstates these workers and recognises their union.”
The union also alleges that the traffic wardens have been set targets for ticketing drivers.
Unite regional officer Lui D’Cunha added: “Not only are Greener Ealing and Ealing council guilty of union-busting, but they are also endangering workers while ripping off residents. Forcing staff to meet unlawful ticket targets fuels abuse and assaults. The council must reverse the disgraceful dismissals and recognise the workers’ union so they have proper protection.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “It is not accurate to state Ealing Council are in dispute with parking wardens as parking services are managed by Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL). The council is committed to supporting the wellbeing of staff and ensuring a balanced approach to performance and service delivery by its contractors.”
