Free parking looms in West London as parking attendants give 100% backing to industrial action

Civil enforcement officers and CCTV operators will strike for two weeks between the 18 January and 31 January.

Wealthy Serco’s offensive 20p an hour offer – or zero for workers on the real living wage – sparks strike

Unless the outsourcer Serco significantly improves its measly pay offer to essential council workers there could be free parking across the London boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Brent this month.

Unite has served notice of industrial action today (Wednesday 4 January) to Serco which provides parking services to the three London boroughs. Civil enforcement officers and CCTV operators will strike for two weeks between the 18 January and 31 January.

The giant outsourcing company’s latest profits were £303.9 million but Serco has offered the workers a measly 20p an hour or nothing for workers on the real living wage.

The current pay offer amounts to a 1.7 per cent pay increase for workers in Ealing who earn just £11.35 an hour. Workers on the Hounslow and Brent contracts currently earn just £11.05 an hour. They have been offered nothing above the rate for the real living wage.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “It’s an absolute disgrace that a hugely profitable business like Serco has put this offensive offer to this workforce.

“Little wonder then that these essential council workers across West London have begun the New Year with a 100 per cent vote for strike action.

“The civil enforcement officers and CCTV operators are joining forces to fight back against Serco, an outsourcer with a track record of paying workers poorly.

“Serco has to give itself a shake and get back to the table, ready to make these workers a reasonable and fair pay offer.

“If not, the workers’ unanimous strike vote will be matched by Unite’s total support.”

The workers are embarking on a coordinated campaign to demand a substantial pay increase when inflation is at 14 per cent (RPI).

Unite acting national officer Clare Keogh said: “Serco and the London boroughs still have time to prevent a strike and the resulting loss of income. If the strike goes ahead it will mean free parking while workers fight for fair pay. The truth is that the council workers face real hardship when inflation is around eight times higher than their pay offer. For workers on the living wage, it’s hardly enough to live on.”