UNITE: Ealing facing traffic anarchy as Serco parking workers take strike action
Wednesday, 26 February 2020 12:31
Residents of Ealing in West London are set to face over a week of
parking and traffic problems as a result of strike action by civil
enforcement officers employed by Serco in the borough. The members
of Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, will begin an eight
day strike tomorrow (Thursday 27 February) and normal service will
not resume until Friday 6 March. The workforce are responsible
for ensuring that resident parking areas are obeyed, streets with
double yellow lines are...Request free
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Residents of Ealing in West London are set to face over a week of
parking and traffic problems as a result of strike action by civil
enforcement officers employed by Serco in the borough.
The members of Unite, the UK and Ireland’s
largest union, will begin an eight day strike tomorrow
(Thursday 27 February) and normal service will not
resume until Friday 6
March.
The workforce are responsible for ensuring that
resident parking areas are obeyed, streets with double yellow lines
are kept clear and both emergency and waste vehicles are not
delayed when they access residential
roads.
The dispute is a result of a botched and
unjustified restructuring and redundancy programme that Serco had
tried to instigate, with minimal consultation with
Unite.
Such is the strength of feeling about Serco’s
actions that the workforce voted 100 per cent in favour of strike
action.
Unite initially suspended the strike first
planned for the end of January, after Serco removed the threat of
compulsory redundancies. However, it then transpired that staff
would be expected to work longer hours and undertake more tasks
under the new structure, with no increase in holiday
entitlement.
Unite regional officer
said: “Feelings are running very high among our
members who believe they have no choice but to take strike
action.
“It is inevitable that the strike
action will result in severe disruption on Ealing’s already over
congested roads but this is entirely a result of Serco’s high
handed actions which is negatively impacting our members’
lives.
“Serco has embarked on an unjustified
redundancy and restructuring programme which has resulted in a
complete breakdown of trust in the
employer.
“It is essential that Serco returns to
the negotiating table and starts acting reasonably to ensure that
the dispute does not escalate
further.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Ealing
parking strike suspended as Serco backs down on job
cuts
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