Unionists have promised ‘parking chaos’ in Reading as a dispute over pay for parking wardens escalates.
Nearly 40 parking wardens, known as civil enforcement officers, are due to go on a two-week strike in a dispute with their employer over pay.
Enforcement of car parking rules has been outsourced by Reading Borough Council to the company Modaxo.
Unite the Union claims Modaxo is ‘refusing to negotiate’ in efforts to secure higher pay for the parking wardens, who are currently paid £12 an hour.
The union has claimed that the wardens are being paid ‘significantly lower’ than the rate they would be paid if they were directly employed by the council.
The parking wardens are due to strike from Friday, January 24 to Thursday, January 30, and again from Friday, January 31 to
These strikes follow two week-long strikes in December, when Unite promised a ‘free parking bonanza’ as parking fines went unissued.
The union has claimed the strikes will cost Modaxo, and the council tens of thousands of pounds.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The parking chaos in Reading is entirely the result of Modaxo’s failure to negotiate.
“It is a huge multinational conglomerate making billions in revenue and yet sees fit to penny-pinch and pay poverty wages to our members in Reading.
“They are treating their workers and the communities in Berkshire they serve with utter contempt and Unite will not stand for it.
“These workers will have the full support of Unite in this battle for fair pay.”
Modaxo is headquartered in Canada, with the strike in Reading being undertaken by employees of one of its UK businesses Trellint.
Unite regional officer Richard White said: “Unite is simply demanding a fair day’s pay for or members’ work like their council-employed colleagues get.
“But Modaxo is refusing to come to the negotiating table with a new offer our members can accept and we have been forced to escalate strike action in response.
“Residents and workers in Reading will know that Modaxo are to blame for the parking chaos that occurs.
“Unite will be backing our members every step of the way in this dispute.”
On its part, a spokesperson representing Trellint stated in December that it is working to resolve the dispute and reach a solution that would ensure the well-being for staff and maintain service continuity for the council.
A spokesperson for the council previously said that Trellint made assurances that parking enforcement would continue in Reading during the strikes, ‘albeit at a reduced level.’
