Marvin OnumonuStriking Ealing traffic wardens protested outside parliament today, 23rd April, over the lack of support from local MPs Deirdre Costigan and James Murray, according to Unite, the union representing the workers.
The demonstration on College Green ran from 10:30am to 12:30pm and came after enforcement officers said Greener Ealing, the council-owned company they work for, has refused to recognise their union since the start of industrial action in August 2024.
The enforcement officers moved from Serco to Greener Ealing Ltd in April 2024, after a campaign to have the service brought back under council control.
Unite said the roles differ from the rest of the waste workforce and the officers want Unite to be recognised for collective bargaining.
Unite said former council deputy leader and now Ealing Southall MP Deirdre Costigan supported the officers during the insourcing campaign alongside council leader Peter Mason.
But since then, Costigan, Mason and MP James Murray have not responded to calls for the council to end what workers call union-busting and recognise their union.
Unite confirmed letters of complaint about the actions of Costigan and Murray have been sent to the parliamentary standards commissioner and the Labour Party general secretary.
A complaint about Mason has also been lodged with Ealing council’s standards committee.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Greener Ealing’s civil enforcement officers have been treated appallingly by their local politicians.
“It is time they stepped up and supported these workers. Unite will not stop until the union-busting at Greener Ealing ends.
“The council must recognise the workers’ union and reinstate those who have been unfairly sacked.”
Workplace Journal has reached out to Greener Ealing for a response.
