Category: traffic wardens

The new deal will see pay increased from £12.70 an hour to £15 an hour, backdated from April 2023. This is a significant improvement on the original 57p per hour increase that had been offered by the employer.

From April 2024 traffic wardens will receive £15.90 an hour. In April 2025 there will be a further increase of either 60p an hour or the RPI rate of inflation. As a consequence, by 2025 staff will be on a minimum hourly rate of £16.50.

More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action, a final escalation in their long-running dispute with NSL, Camden Council’s private contractor.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “I’m proud of the union as we end our 59 days of strike action. This is my first time taking indefinite strike action, and I saw the spirit and tenacity of members. New members joined us and boosted the strike action. We were there in the heat, cold and rain marching through Camden.

“I believe collective action is the key to a successful strike, there is strength in unity.”

Strikers picket Marston Holdings head office in Birmingham

As well as picketing Camden Council, strikers also picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches joined them.

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “This is a fantastic victory for Camden traffic wardens. After eight weeks of strikes they have finally been offered a proper pay deal.

“The pay boost is no more than they deserve. Their determination to fight for fairness is a real inspiration and other workers should be encouraged by the success of their long-running battle for fair wages.”

Throughout their long-running dispute, the workers received messages of solidarity and support on picket lines from across the union.

UNISON steward Stella said: “I’d like to thank everyone in UNISON for their support during our 59 days of continuous strike action. Your messages of solidarity and support have helped us stay motivated and determined to fight for a win.”

UNISON London regional organiser Steve Terry said: “Camden traffic wardens have shown courage and resilience throughout the dispute and can be proud of this achievement.”

The article Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

The new deal will see pay increased from £12.70 an hour to £15 an hour, backdated from April 2023. This is a significant improvement on the original 57p per hour increase that had been offered by the employer.

From April 2024 traffic wardens will receive £15.90 an hour. In April 2025 there will be a further increase of either 60p an hour or the RPI rate of inflation. As a consequence, by 2025 staff will be on a minimum hourly rate of £16.50.

More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action, a final escalation in their long-running dispute with NSL, Camden Council’s private contractor.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “I’m proud of the union as we end our 59 days of strike action. This is my first time taking indefinite strike action, and I saw the spirit and tenacity of members. New members joined us and boosted the strike action. We were there in the heat, cold and rain marching through Camden.

“I believe collective action is the key to a successful strike, there is strength in unity.”

Strikers picket Marston Holdings head office in Birmingham

As well as picketing Camden Council, strikers also picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches joined them.

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “This is a fantastic victory for Camden traffic wardens. After eight weeks of strikes they have finally been offered a proper pay deal.

“The pay boost is no more than they deserve. Their determination to fight for fairness is a real inspiration and other workers should be encouraged by the success of their long-running battle for fair wages.”

Throughout their long-running dispute, the workers received messages of solidarity and support on picket lines from across the union.

UNISON steward Stella said: “I’d like to thank everyone in UNISON for their support during our 59 days of continuous strike action. Your messages of solidarity and support have helped us stay motivated and determined to fight for a win.”

UNISON London regional organiser Steve Terry said: “Camden traffic wardens have shown courage and resilience throughout the dispute and can be proud of this achievement.”

The article Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Over 100 London traffic wardens have been on an indefinite strike since 24 July, after a meagre pay offer of 4.5% from NSL, a company subcontracted by Camden Council.

UNISON members unanimously voted for strike action, with more workers joining the picket as the weeks roll on.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

They are paid £12.70 an hour, and have called for an increase to £15.90 an hour. Signs on the picket line (pictured below) read ‘NSL: No Slave Labour’.

UNISON members picket Camden Council offices

Employer NSL saw its profits almost double from £5.8m in 2021 to £9.2m in 2022. The company director received a 60% pay increase in this period, and is salaried at £412,000. 

UNISON has calculated that it would take one of the traffic wardens 16 years to earn the same amount the director receives in one year. 

The traffic wardens are determined to continue the strike until their demand for fair pay is met. 

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “The cost of food is still very high. A lot of the officers are borrowing money. Credit card bills are up. We need a cushion. They are always offering us just pennies – it’s not enough to pay rent and take care of our families.”

Workers have been picketing Camden Council and received messages of solidarity from across the country. Last week, 35 strikers picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. They were joined by UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches.

“We wanted to take our grievances to them,” a striker who visited Birmingham said. “We want a pay rise and we want them to know about it. We’re doing a job for them and getting abused on the streets.

“They need to know how we feel—it’s not fair. We go through all this, not even for £15 an hour, while they profit. At Christmas, NSL gives us £5. That’s it for a year’s abuse. And if you’re off that day, you don’t even get given it. These are the companies we’re killing ourselves for. We deserve better.”

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “I’m proud of how determined our members are to take a stand and fight for fair pay – they are prepared to follow this through to the end. They work long hours doing a difficult job and deserve decent pay.”

“These workers are employed by private companies that make millions out of their labour, but who refuse to pay them enough money to live on.”

As the strike goes on, Camden Council continues to pay NSL for its contract. The union has called for the council to get involved and ensure wardens are paid proper wages.

There are plenty of actions that UNISON members can take to support the strikers.

UNISON Camden invites all union members to join the pickets (details below), and will be hosting a march on Saturday 26 August, which will assemble outside Mornington Crescent in Camden at 12:30pm.

To find out what else you can do to support strikers: email unison@camden.gov.uk  

The article Over 100 Camden traffic wardens on indefinite strike first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Over 100 London traffic wardens have been on an indefinite strike since 24 July, after a meagre pay offer of 4.5% from NSL, a company subcontracted by Camden Council.

UNISON members unanimously voted for strike action, with more workers joining the picket as the weeks roll on.

The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work.

They are paid £12.70 an hour, and have called for an increase to £15.90 an hour. Signs on the picket line (pictured below) read ‘NSL: No Slave Labour’.

UNISON members picket Camden Council offices

Employer NSL saw its profits almost double from £5.8m in 2021 to £9.2m in 2022. The company director received a 60% pay increase in this period, and is salaried at £412,000. 

UNISON has calculated that it would take one of the traffic wardens 16 years to earn the same amount the director receives in one year. 

The traffic wardens are determined to continue the strike until their demand for fair pay is met. 

UNISON steward Emmanuel said: “The cost of food is still very high. A lot of the officers are borrowing money. Credit card bills are up. We need a cushion. They are always offering us just pennies – it’s not enough to pay rent and take care of our families.”

Workers have been picketing Camden Council and received messages of solidarity from across the country. Last week, 35 strikers picketed the head office of Marston Holdings, the parent company to NSL. They were joined by UNISON members from Birmingham and Sandwell local government branches.

“We wanted to take our grievances to them,” a striker who visited Birmingham said. “We want a pay rise and we want them to know about it. We’re doing a job for them and getting abused on the streets.

“They need to know how we feel—it’s not fair. We go through all this, not even for £15 an hour, while they profit. At Christmas, NSL gives us £5. That’s it for a year’s abuse. And if you’re off that day, you don’t even get given it. These are the companies we’re killing ourselves for. We deserve better.”

UNISON Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “I’m proud of how determined our members are to take a stand and fight for fair pay – they are prepared to follow this through to the end. They work long hours doing a difficult job and deserve decent pay.”

“These workers are employed by private companies that make millions out of their labour, but who refuse to pay them enough money to live on.”

As the strike goes on, Camden Council continues to pay NSL for its contract. The union has called for the council to get involved and ensure wardens are paid proper wages.

There are plenty of actions that UNISON members can take to support the strikers.

UNISON Camden invites all union members to join the pickets (details below), and will be hosting a march on Saturday 26 August, which will assemble outside Mornington Crescent in Camden at 12:30pm.

To find out what else you can do to support strikers: email unison@camden.gov.uk  

The article Over 100 Camden traffic wardens take indefinite strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.