Parking wardens in South London have walked out this week in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Strike action began on Monday morning (11 November) after last-ditch talks to negotiate a pay rise for the wardens, employed by APCOA Parking on behalf of Wandsworth, Richmond and Lambeth councils, failed.

The workers, who are members of the GMB union, are set to strike until midnight on Sunday, 17 November.

The GMB warned South London will be plunged into 'complete dysfunction' if the dispute remains unsettled, as it said more than 200 wardens across the three boroughs have walked out.

The union said the wardens voted to take action due to a string of workplace issues, including some workers not being offered a pay rise for 2024. 

The GMB claimed members have been treated with disrespect in the workplace, while some have been harassed and intimidated.

The GMB is also balloting members in Kingston on potential strike action.

APCOA said it will try to resolve the dispute, but argued the GMB's 'irregular actions' can't be justified.

The company said the strike action breaches the three-year pay agreement it holds with the GMB in Wandsworth, which expires in April 2025.

It added the union has no authority to negotiate pay or employment terms in Richmond and Kingston as it is not yet recognised as a collective bargaining unit in the boroughs.

The councils urged APCOA and GMB to resolve the dispute.

APCOA has held the parking enforcement contract in Lambeth since 2016, but it took over separate contracts run by NSL in Wandsworth and Richmond in August.

An investigation by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) earlier this year revealed serious concerns held by wardens in Wandsworth about their working conditions, before APCOA took over the contract from NSL.

The whistleblowers described their work environment under NSL as 'unhealthy', while raising concerns about the council's management of the contract.

One warden said: "It's just a very negative environment and I feel abandoned by the council because they, in my view, could bring us in house but they don't want to."

Another added: "The bottom line is we're just not really appreciated in any way and we don't really have a voice. If we say anything you get shut down, you get told to just be quiet, it doesn't go anywhere."

The council said at the time it was positive about the contract moving to APCOA and that it valued the wardens' hard work.

Alex Etches, regional organiser at GMB, said this week's strike action in Wandsworth, Richmond and Lambeth comes as members are determined to 'win dignity in the work they do'.

Mr Etches said: "If the company continues to refuse to settle this dispute, there will be complete dysfunction when it comes to ensuring the safe management of traffic and parking across South West London.

"These workers do a difficult and dangerous job for their local authorities, and it is vital that they are treated with respect.

"Workers are the ones that make these contracts run and without them companies like APCOA are nothing."

An APCOA spokesperson told the LDRS: "After six years of excellent relationships with the GMB in Lambeth, we are now in dispute over a pay claim.

"We are extremely disappointed that the GMB has decided to strike and would request that they reconvene talks with ACAS as soon as possible and reconsider their demands."

The spokesperson added: "The GMB currently has no authority to negotiate on pay or employment terms with APCOA in Richmond but instead of following the normal process of applying to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for collective bargaining recognition, the GMB has announced a strike.

"In addition, the GMB is balloting members for strike action at Kingston, where it also has no authority to negotiate with APCOA on pay or employment terms.

"Whilst APCOA will continue to do all it reasonably can to resolve the situation, the GMB's irregular actions in these circumstances cannot be justified."

Councillor Jenny Yates, Wandsworth Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "APCOA workers perform vital tasks for our community, advising members of the public and ensuring parking rules are enforced. We hope an agreement can be reached as soon as possible."

A Richmond Council spokesperson said: "While not a party in the negotiations, the council has closely monitored the situation and has been in contact with both parties.

"In what is an important area of service delivery, for safety and a functioning road network, APCOA have taken their own actions to minimise the disruption from the industrial action."

A Lambeth Council spokesperson added: "We'd urge the employer and staff representatives to reconvene talks via the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), to reach a negotiated agreement satisfactory to both sides."