Motorists escape parking fines during warden strike

A group of traffic wardens have threatened to walk out during the Olympics in a row over pay.

About 160 in Camden staged walk-outs last Wednesday and last Thursday and the workforce could be balloted by its union for more industrial action during the Games.

The action allowed many motorists to get away without tickets for parking offences and trade union Unison estimates it could cost the council £100,000 in lost revenue.

It is calling on employer NSL, the company contracted to Camden, to pay workers £10 per hour. They currently earn £8.06 per hour, which is 24p below the London Living Wage.

An NSL spokesperson added that the disruption caused to operations was "minimal" as it had drafted in other workers.

The union also wants time-and-a-half pay for unsociable hours and weekends as well as an extra three days’ annual leave.

Branch secretary George Binett said that current rates of pay amount to “poverty wages” which leave families struggling as the cost of living in the capital continues to rise.

Camden council is believed to generate about £17 million annually through parking tickets, making it the second highest of all London boroughs.