Wiltshire parking wardens vote for further strike action
GMB union members have been reballoted in a 'fire and rehire' dispute
Last updated 23rd May 2023
We could see further strikes by parking wardens working for Wiltshire Council this summer.
Staff who are members of the GMB Union have voted in favour of taking further industrial action, in a 'fire and rehire' dispute.
10 days of strikes have already taken place since 2021, following plans to take away unsocial hours pay for workers, described as a potential 20% cut in real terms wages.
100% of members voted for a further mandate for industrial action, in a new ballot which closed on Friday (19th May).
David McMullen, GMB Regional Organiser said:
“Wiltshire Council needs to be very clear that this overwhelming vote for further strike action by our members shows their utter determination to resist the proposed pay cut which has been threatened for a year and a half.
“GMB has been forced to run another strike ballot for our members by the intransigence from the council’s top bosses, who could have allowed the existing ballot to roll on.
“The Council, and we believe the decisions have been made right at the top by CEO Terence Herbert, have been dragging their feet, deliberately withholding information from us and refusing to respond to GMB’s repeated attempts to seek a solution to this dispute.
“Council bosses have denied they have ever contemplated using ‘fire and rehire’, but GMB has in its possession documentary proof that in June 2022, the council sought legal advice from the solicitors firm, Bevan Brittan, where section 3.7 of the solicitors’ response is advice to Wiltshire Council on 'pushing through fire and rehire'.
“GMB would prefer an amicable, negotiated solution, but if the council don’t compromise, we are ready for the fight, with a fresh strike mandate."
No new strike dates have been confirmed at this stage.
Statement from Wiltshire Council
In a statement to us this morning, Andy Brown, Wiltshire Council Corporate Director Resources & Deputy Chief Executive, said: “It’s great to hear that GMB would ‘prefer an amicable, negotiated solution to this ongoing issue’, because this has been our position all along.
“However, GMB’s claim of an ‘overwhelming vote for further strike action’ is somewhat overstated, as only 23 members were balloted and of these only 14 responded – we have more than 5,000 employees at Wiltshire Council.
“As we have stated throughout this process, we are keen to resolve this dispute through collective consultation, and so the continued reference to ‘fire and rehire’ is unhelpful. Like any reasonable employer, legal advice was sought on the process and options available, and this is an option that is available to employers. However, the fact that we have been engaged in collective consultation for nearly 18 months is evidence that we are looking for every possible way to avoid this outcome.
“In early April, we held another ACAS facilitated meeting with GMB, but the union did not put forward any counter proposals to proposed changes to our unsocial hours policy.
“We will continue to work with all parties to try to reach an agreement so that our staff are fairly and appropriately rewarded, while ensuring our policies are standardised, fit for purpose, financially viable and support delivery of the council’s Business Plan.”