Parking charges still in place as Wiltshire traffic wardens strike for second time
"No final decisions have been made"
Wiltshire Council are reminding people that parking charges and restrictions are still in place today (Tuesday 17th May) despite a second strike by traffic wardens.
They are taking industrial action again over a dispute about a possible pay cut.
The GMB Union has confirmed it's members will be walking out, after first doing so last Saturday (7th May).
The local authority say claims that they lose ÂŁ30,000 every day strike action is taken are "vastly inflated".
The dispute is to a proposed pay cut of up to 10% for traffic wardens.
The Union say Wiltshire Council has refused the offer by ACAS, the Government arbitration service, to facilitate talks to resolve the dispute.
Keith Roberts, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
"Our members simply cannot afford to lose this money.
“They have rent and mortgages to pay, are struggling with through-the-roof energy prices and inflation is rampant.
"There was a 100 per cent solid strike on Saturday 7 May, sending a clear message to the council this pay cut is going to be fought every inch of the way.
"We are astonished that despite our members taking strike action, the council is still refusing talks with GMB to resolve the dispute.
“Each day where parking enforcement is disrupted costs the council up to £30,000. It is not in the interests of council taxpayers for the council to needlessly prolong the dispute.
"Our members are never going to accept a pay cut, so it is fruitless for the council to stubbornly dig in over an issue they cannot win.
“To resolve the dispute, the council just has to take the pay cut proposal off the table."
"IT IS UNHELPFUL FOR GMB TO BE ISSUING MISLEADING CLAIMS"
Wiltshire Council say that they have not refused an offer from ACAS.
In response, Terence Herbert, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council, said:
“Discussions between the council and the three recognised unions – Unison, Unite the Union and GMB – over proposed changes to terms and conditions are ongoing.
“However, it is unhelpful for GMB to be issuing misleading claims while we’re having these discussions.
“Parking enforcement was not completely suspended during Saturday’s industrial action, and claims that we would lose £30,000 for every day that civil enforcement officers are on strike are vastly inflated.
“We have not refused an offer from ACAS to mediate on this dispute; ACAS have contacted both GMB and ourselves and have advised us that given both parties’ position, there is no need to initiate any ACAS collective conciliation discussions at this time.
“It is also important to note that workers’ pay is not being cut and no final decisions have been made. However, we do need to make some changes to ensure our policies remain fit for purpose, financially viable and support delivery of our business plan, while ensuring our staff are fairly and appropriately rewarded.
“We’ll continue to work with the three unions positively to reach a resolution.”