Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ealing traffic wardens to protest at Westminster on April 23 in a growing dispute over union rights and treatment by Ealing Council-owned Greener Ealing Ltd.
The Unite-organized demonstration is scheduled to take place at College Green in Westminster from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Protesters are accusing Ealing North MP James Murray and Ealing Southall MP Deirdre Costigan of abandoning the workers.
Since August 2024, the enforcement officers, who work for Greener Ealing Ltd., an Ealing Council-owned business, have been on strike over what Unite refers to as the business’s “refusal to recognise their union.”
Prior to being brought in-house to the council’s Greener Ealing on April 1, 2024, the personnel were employed by Serco.
Unite claims that Serco’s agreement with Unite to represent the workers has not been acknowledged by Greener Ealing.
After four wardens were fired for taking part in industrial action, tensions have increased. Unite has accused the council and its arms-length business of using union-busting tactics and claims that these dismissals were based on “trumped up charges.”
Wardens draw attention to the dangers of being under pressure to issue citations when working alone, particularly at night, which puts them at greater risk of violence and abuse. They desire more fair performance standards and safer working environments.
Rising parking fines, according to the wardens, are a source of public animosity and harassment. They urge the council to reevaluate the policies that fuel these conflicts.
The wardens’ requests center on fair treatment, better working conditions, addressing council parking enforcement policies more broadly, removing ticket quotas and associated pressures, union recognition for adequate representation, and more.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“Greener Ealing’s civil enforcement officers have been treated appallingly by their local politicians.
It is time they stepped up and supported these workers. Unite will not stop until the union-busting at Greener Ealing ends. The council must recognise the workers’ union and reinstate those who have been unfairly sacked.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS previously, 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.
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.”
After a campaign backed by Councillor Peter Mason, the council leader at the time, and Ms. Costigan, the deputy leader of the Ealing council at the time, the traffic wardens, who had previously worked for Serco, were moved in-house under Greener Ealing Ltd. in April 2024.
However, it is now alleged that Mr. Murray, Councillor Mason, and Ms. Costigan abandoned the workers in their ongoing struggle for union recognition.
Unite stated that formal letters of complaint over the actions of Ms. Costigan and Mr. Murray has been sent to the Labour Party general secretary and the parliamentary standards commissioner, adding another twist to the conflict.
The standards committee of the Ealing Council has also received a complaint against Mr. Mason.
A request for comment has been sent to the Ealing Council and Members of Parliament James Murray and Deirdre Costigan.
What are the main demands of the traffic wardens in their dispute with Greener Ealing?
Since Unite has been representing numerous wardens for more than ten years, the wardens want the Greener Ealing and Ealing Council to formally acknowledge Unite as their bargaining representation.
Collective bargaining over wages, working conditions, and other matters would be possible with this recognition.
The pressure to reach high daily parking ticket targets, which they claim violate the Traffic Management Act, must end, according to the wardens. Even though they don’t always identify violations, they describe being intimidated or reprimanded for not issuing a minimum number of citations per shift.
They want to be shielded from unjust terminations and disciplinary measures related to strikes or missing ticket goals. According to Unite, some wardens were wrongfully fired during times of strike.