A trade union has accused Lambeth council of burying its head in the sand about a strike by people working in its parking service.
GMB, a union for local government workers, estimates that a current strike by parking wardens in the borough will cost the council around £300,000 a week in lost revenue.
The union said dozens of wardens employed by the council’s parking contractor are taking action over several issues.
The strike began yesterday (11 November) and is due to continue until midnight on Sunday 17 November. Wardens are also on strike in the boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond.
The union said issues at stake include:
- Staff not being offered “a single penny” in pay talks that lasted months
- APCOA not negotiating in good faith
- Harassment and intimidation of GMB members.
“Lambeth council and its leader cannot wash their hands of these workers,” said GMB regional organiser Alex Etches.
“They are providing an essential public service for the council and it is not their fault they have been outsourced.
“If you add up how much Lambeth council will be missing out on in lost revenue, it amounts to £300,000 a week.
“It is clear to us the council is underwriting the cost of the dispute on behalf of their contractor, which leaves us with one question – how is this going to be paid for?
“Would the local residents prefer for this cost to be reflected in their council tax bill or in cuts to their local services, because presumably it’s going to be one of the two.”
In a statement, Lambeth council said: “Our parking services have been operated by APCOA for several years. We would urge the employer and staff representatives to reconvene talks via the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), to reach a negotiated agreement satisfactory to both sides.”
The union said its figure of £300,000 a week is based on revenues for 2022/23 published by Lambeth council.
