Camden Council is losing at least £50,000 a day during an ongoing parking strike, according to union leaders, three weeks into the latest walkout by traffic wardens. The dispute involves Unison members employed by NSL, a company owned by bailiff firm Marston Holdings, who are demanding better pay and holiday allowances.
Strike impact on parking enforcement
During the dispute, the vast majority of parking offences are going unpunished, with CCTV fines not being processed and few wardens out on the street to ticket drivers. Unison branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “We think Camden must be losing at least £50,000 a day because they can’t process tickets. Hardly any street tickets are being issued.”
Wheatley added: “The way for them to stop losing money hand over fist is to ultimately bring this service back in house. In the meantime NSL needs to make a decent offer to give the workers decent pay and conditions and the respect that comes with it.”
Union protests and company response
Marston Holdings, which also hires bailiffs to chase up debts, has a chief executive who earns £619,000 a year. Unison says the top boss gets £330,000 an hour. The union members went to the company’s office in Shaftesbury Avenue, Bloomsbury, to protest this week. Protests have been held at Kilburn High Road and Regis Road as the pressure intensifies on Camden Council’s private contractor.
Camden traffic wardens won similar pay rise demands four years ago after 56 days of strike action. Marston/NSL have been invited by the CNJ to comment on the dispute three times during the strike but have so far not responded.
Next steps in the dispute
A solidarity picket is being held outside the Camden depot, 13-15 Guilfold Street, King’s Cross, on Monday from 7-10am.
