'Serco the Scrooge'

There could be free parking for New Year sales shoppers across Hounslow, Ealing and Brent if workers employed by the ‘Scrooge’ outsourcer, Serco vote for strike action.

The strike ballot for Hounslow opens today (November 21) and workers in Ealing and Brent begin voting on Tuesday, November 22. The ballot results are due from December 20.

The giant outsourcing company Serco has offered civil enforcement officers and CCTV operators a measly 20p an hour or nothing for workers on the real living wage.

The offer amounts to a 1.7% pay increase for workers in Ealing who earn just £11.35 an hour. Workers on the Hounslow and Brent contracts who forced through union recognition this year currently earn just £11.05 an hour. They have been offered nothing above the rate for the real living wage.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said, “Essential workers across West London are joining forces to fight back against Serco, an outsourcer with a track record of trying to supress pay. Unite has a track record of winning better pay for workers at Serco, so if the parking attendants and CCTV operators vote to strike they have their union’s complete support.”

All the workers are embarking on a coordinated campaign to demand a substantial pay increase when inflation is at the 41 year high of 14.2 per cent (RPI).

Unite acting national officer, Clare Keogh added, “Serco the Scrooge outsourcer faces a coordinated fightback across London. If the strike goes ahead shoppers will be able to park for free while workers fight for fair pay. Workers face real hardship when inflation is more than seven times higher than their pay offer. For workers on the living wage, it’s hardly enough to live on.”

By Ciaran Naidoo