Hackney traffic wardens set for new strikes

Traffic wardens in Hackney are to stage a fresh wave of strikes in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union employed by council contractor APCOA Parking will walk out for five days from Monday.

The wardens have rejected a 1.5 per cent wage offer as well as “woefully inadequate” sick pay arrangements.

The new strikes follow two days of industrial action in August.

Workers claim APCOA only pays statutory sick pay to staff and that the first three days of sickness are not paid, which is not in line with staff directly employed by the council.

A meeting on Monday failed to resolve the dispute, and 30 traffic wardens will strike from Monday until midnight on Friday.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The result was disappointing. The employer made a take it-or-leave it offer and, when asked, replied it was not prepared to negotiate. The offer is for one week of sick pay over a rolling year, not applicable for the first three days of sickness. In other words, to get one day of sick pay, you must have been sick for four consecutive days first of all.

“The average number of sick days at the company, based on company figures is three days per year. The offer is woefully inadequate.”

APCOA parking and Hackney Council have not yet responded to a request for comment.