South London parking wardens stop issuing tickets, says GMB

More than 200 parking wardens and environmental officers across four London Boroughs have stopped issuing tickets as a form of industrial action from 3rd March 2025.

This is the continuation of a dispute which has seen GMB members take 14 days of strike action since November.

The action is being taken by wardens in Wandsworth, Richmond, Lambeth and Kingston, and will continue indefinitely or until APCOA agree to settle the dispute.

Members of GMB, the union for outsourced workers, said they have not been offered a fair rise in recent pay talks, as well as there being no recognition agreed for contracts in Kingston and Richmond.

GMB also alleged harassment and intimidation of its members.

Alex Etches, regional organiser at GMB, said: “APCOA is refusing to settle this dispute, which is forcing our members to take this unprecedented action.

“Despite this type of industrial action never having been tried before, we are predicting complete disfunction when it comes to traffic and parking across South London.

“Our members meanwhile won’t be losing any pay, but solely costing this privateer and the local authorities, who are yet to learn that workers are the ones that make these contracts run.