EALING parking officers are set to go on strike from tomorrow, May 5, Unite the Union has said.

The strike is due to take place across three days this week (May 5-7) and three days next week (May 12-14).

According to Unite, this will bring 'election day parking chaos', with London Mayor, London Assembly and Ealing Council by-elections all taking place on Thursday, May 6.

More than 40 civil enforcement officers will strike after Serco – the company they work for – offered severance to elected Unite representatives and activists in what is claimed to be an attempt to undermine trade union organisation.

According to Unite, the dispute is linked to a 'botched and unjustified restructuring and redundancy programme' that Serco tried to instigate in late 2019, with 'minimal consultation' with Unite.

Furthermore, the union claims that Serco is also refusing to negotiate a new absence management policy for employees working on the Ealing contract.

Unite believes the present policy is being used to unfairly dismiss employees and should be renegotiated.

Unite regional officer, Clare Keogh, said: "Serco is drinking in the last chance salon.

"If they do not engage fully and meaningfully with Unite over these issues, our members will begin strike action.

"Our members do not want to strike.

"But Serco's attempts to undermine collective bargaining through the targeting of individual staff and the misuse of the absence policy has left them with no choice.

"The strikes, along with the resultant election day parking chaos, can still be avoided if Serco climbs down from its position and engages in good faith to resolve these issues."

Unite has called on Ealing Council to step in and settle the dispute in order to prevent the strike from taking place.

A spokesperson for Ealing Council said: "Ealing Council and Serco have worked in partnership to deliver a high quality parking enforcement service across the borough for over two years.

"During the planned industrial action we plan to deploy approximately half of the planned hours and the resources will be deployed to the main areas of parking demand in consultation and as agreed with Serco."

Serco has been approached for comment.