Lewisham Parking Staff Begin Further Strike Action Over Pay Dispute

Lewisham Parking Enforcement Strikes Continue With More Dates Planned

Lewisham Parking Enforcement Staff Begin Further Strike Action Over Pay Dispute Parking enforcement officers working for private contractor NSL in Lewisham have begun another series of strikes as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, according to UNISON. The latest walkouts began on Monday 21 September and are scheduled to continue on 22 and 25 September, with further strike dates planned throughout October. What the Lewisham parking dispute is about UNISON says the workers are paid £1.70 less per hour than NSL colleagues carrying out the same job in neighbouring Camden and Westminster. The union says the dispute has already resulted in three previous sets of strike dates, while the latest action comes after NSL recently signed a recognition agreement with UNISON. UNISON says the agreement represents progress, but claims the company has not yet entered talks aimed at addressing the difference in pay between Lewisham staff and workers in other London boroughs. The union's London regional organiser Rachael Johnson said the company should now enter negotiations over pay and described the recognition agreement as a positive development for the workers. NSL is the private contractor employing the parking enforcement officers, who provide parking enforcement services on behalf of Lewisham Council. The current round of industrial action includes strike dates on 21, 22 and 25 September, followed by further planned walkouts on 5, 7, 8, 19, 20 and 23 October. UNISON says a picket line will be in place at Eros House on Brownhill Road in Catford during each of the announced strike days. For motorists, the dispute is significant because parking enforcement is an important part of how restrictions, permits and parking controls are managed across the borough. Lewisham Council says effective parking enforcement supports public transport users, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers who follow parking restrictions. The council operates controlled parking zones, pay-to-park bays and council car parks across the borough. The timing also comes as Lewisham continues to introduce and consult on changes to parking controls in parts of the borough. The council launched a statutory consultation in September over the proposed expansion of Controlled Parking Zone R and related street improvements. Drivers visiting Lewisham should continue to check local signs and parking restrictions rather than assuming that enforcement action will not take place because of the industrial dispute. The council publishes information on permits, controlled parking zones, car parks and PCNs through its parking service. For drivers who regularly travel into busy London boroughs, planning parking before a journey can also reduce the risk of arriving without a suitable space or having to search unfamiliar streets for legal parking. EveryonesParking can help drivers look for parking options before they travel, particularly when visiting busy areas where on-street parking is limited or restrictions can vary from one location to another. The Lewisham dispute is scheduled to continue into October unless an agreement is reached. For now, the announced strike dates mean the dispute remains an active issue for the borough's parking enforcement service.