Bromley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Striking traffic wardens were blocked from entering a tense Bromley meeting, later disrupted by pro-Palestine activists amid heightened local tensions.
During an exciting full council meeting on December 8, both groups of demonstrators presented their causes to Bromley Council.
A woman in the public gallery stepped up during a time when the chamber was being questioned by the public. She loudly demanded that the council disclose the investments it had made in Israeli-affiliated businesses, while a guy stood beside her holding a Palestinian flag.
She asked:
“Will the council agree to a full disclosure and commitment to divestment from all weapon manufacturers and companies linked to the oppression of Palestine? One day, you will hang your heads in shame.”
The Conservative side of the chamber yelled “shame on you” in response to her protestations, and numerous Tories attempted to yell her down and remove the activists from the meeting, claiming she was going around the correct procedures.
During her interruption, Cllr Simon Fawthrop exclaimed:
“This is a travesty of democracy. People have put down questions to speak – members of the public – and they are being denied the right by these agitators.”
The activist cried” free Palestine” as they were led out of the chamber and further stated that the council had been disregarding the group’s Freedom of Information( FOI) requests for information regarding its Israeli interests. Regarding the circumstance, Bromley Council has been approached for comment.
Before the meeting, a number of business wardens offered a sentry line outside the Bromley Civic Centre to seek a pay envelope increase from APCOA, the company that Bromley Council contracts with to handle parking enforcement. Following the first two days of strike action last month, APCOA failed to give the wardens with a streamlined pay offer, which led to the third day of GMB Union strikes on December 8.
Council officers, according to those on strike, told them the public gallery was full and averted them from attending the meeting.
There would have been room for the group of wardens indeed though the Original Democracy Reporting Service was present at the meeting on Monday.
According to Bromley Council, the protest created “uncertainty and confusion,” and because some of the wardens were wearing masks, they were not allowed to attend the meeting for the sake of public safety.
A council spokesperson said:
“The council would not admit masked individuals where public safety could be undermined but there was also confusion about the numbers of people already in the public gallery in the council chamber, hence the decision not to admit more attendees than could be accommodated.”
One disgruntled traffic warden on the picket line said:
“We want fair pay. Being on £12.21 minimum rate, we’ve been on minimum wage for a long, long time. I’ve been here 20 years. When I started with APCOA, it was just over the minimum rate. 20 years later, I’m now on the minimum rate of £12.21.
It doesn’t matter what we do for the work, on the street, helping the public, the more and more pressure we’ve got on and more and more contraventions; we just can’t keep up anymore, and all we’re asking for is a fair wage.”
The fact that traffic wardens in other boroughs, such Lambeth and Wandsworth, are paid £15 per hour for performing the same work infuriated Bromley traffic wardens as well. Bromley residents are paid £13 per hour by APCOA, which is less than the London Living Wage, which is anticipated to rise to £14.80 in April of next year.
The warden continued:
“They’re recognising their work. They’re getting their fair pay. We’re not, and it’s getting dangerous on the streets now. People are knifing, crime, and all the rest of it. No one is helping us. The council is not listening to us. APCOA is not listening to us.”
The warden was “optimistic” they would achieve their pay goal. They added:
“We’re strong in our unity and we want to continue with the cause of fighting for fair pay. We’re not going to stop it now. Enough is enough. We have to make a stand.”
GMB Regional Organiser Craig Prickett said:
“Bromley’s PCN [penalty charge notice] income has surged and APCOA has received more than £5.3 million in inflation uplifts, yet some of the officers delivering this service are using food banks and working multiple jobs.
Much of the rejected pay rise would only have raised some staff just above the legal minimum wage, meaning APCOA attempted to present a statutory requirement as if it were a genuine uplift.”
One of the striking wardens Andy Miles-Constantinou was let into the meeting, and he asked Bromley’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety:
“APCOA Civil Enforcement Officers in Bromley, like myself, play a key role identifying stolen blue badges. What is Bromley Council doing to ensure we are paid a fair wage for the important work we do?”
Cllr Nicholas Bennett gave a short reply:
“This is a question for APCOA as employer.”
In a supplementary question, Labour Councillor Tony McPartlan said:
“ACPOA made nearly €1 billion in revenue in 2020. Does the portfolio holder personally believe it’s fair that it proposes to give Bromley workers a pay rise of just 50p?”
Cllr Bennet gave another short reply. He said:
“I refer Cllr McPartlan to the answer I gave some moments ago.”
Councillor Simon Jeal, the leader of the opposition, questioned how much money Bromley had lost as a result of the strikes and whether APCOA would refund the losses. However, Cllr. Bennett advised him to ask a more comprehensive question the next time.
A third question from the Labour group to Cllr Bennett was asked by Cllr Ruth McGregor, who said:
“Does the portfolio holder think it’s fair that enforcement officers that have been working as long as 21 years plus are still paid minimum wage when Bromley Council is responsible for enforcing that contract? Surely we should be expecting our suppliers to pay a fair wage?”
In a similar response, Cllr Bennett said:
“I suggest that cllr McGregor takes it up with the employer.”
In relation to the strikes, APCOA has previously stated:
“We are disappointed that our latest pay offer has been rejected and that the GMB is choosing to advocate strike action in Bromley when there is still scope for negotiations to continue. We believe our offer was a fair one. We remain open to continued constructive discussions to reach a resolution and avoid any action.”
What pay offer did APCOA make to Bromley traffic wardens?
APCOA has reportedly offered Bromley business wardens an hourly rate of about £13, which GMB describes as only a small uplift on being “ poverty pay ” and below what the union argues is demanded to match London living costs.
The company proposed adding base pay to roughly £13 per hour for civil enforcement officers in Bromley. GMB is pressing for a significantly advanced rate (near to or above the London Living pay envelope standard) and better terms on backdating, so has continued strike action in opposition to APCOA’s current offer.
Union organisers have gestured further strike days are likely if addresses at ACAS don’t produce a mainly better pay offer, meaning dislocation to parking enforcement could continue into the new time.