GMB members at NSL move towards industrial action after consultative ballot over pay dispute
GMB members at NSL vote for industrial action after consultative ballot over right to be paid London Living Wage of £10.20 per hour
The bottom line is simple; the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea should be ensuring that all its external contractors who provide services to residents pay their employees as a minimum the London Living Wage, says GMB London
GMB members employed by NSL, the private contractor in Kensington and Chelsea who provide parking enforcement services, have undertaken a consultative ballot and voted in favour of industrial action.
The result means that the members now have a mandate to ask permission from the Regional Secretary for a full ballot on industrial action over the right to be paid the London Living Wage and to challenge the double standards being applied from contract to contract. [See notes to editors for previous GMB press release]
This is following rejection of the company's offer to pay workers 2% in 2018 and a further 2% in 2019. However, this did not meet the aspirations of members, as it leaves many still earning less than the London Living Wage of £10.20p per hour.
Shaun Graham, GMB Regional Officer said:
"NSL pay the London Living Wage in Wandsworth to the Traffic Enforcement Officers for doing exactly the same job whilst keeping the differentials in allowances for pushbikes, motorcycle and car driving. If the London Living Wage is good enough for Wandsworth, then it is good enough for low paid employees employed by NSL in Kensington & Chelsea.
"Despite the fact the Mayor of London supports and advocates the London Living Wage as a benchmark to bring workers out of the low pay poverty trap in London, there are many contractors within local authorities providing public services who are suggesting that the Local Authority is to blame for not funding the London Living wage.
"This blame culture is akin to the old party game ‘pass the parcel’. The bottom line is simple; the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea should be ensuring that all its external contractors who provide services to residents pay their employees as a minimum the London Living Wage.
"Everybody knows how difficult it is to meet the exuberant cost of living and working in our wonderful Capital, this is why the London Living Wage was introduced by the then Mayor, Boris Johnson.
"NSL are blaming Kensington & Chelsea Council as the reason they cannot pay hard working employees the London Living Wage, as the contract with the Council does not provide for pay increases over 1.5% and that all NSL staff across the UK are only receiving 1.5%.
"To GMB members in NSL this is not acceptable, when the cost of living is so high and in a time when our GMB members are suffering and struggling to pay their bills and manage the increase in utilities, food and transportation.
"In order to try and resolve this impasse GMB suggested to NSL to involve ACAS to try and resolve the situation and avert industrial action and I do hope this will be productive and reach the right and just conclusions for GMB members working in Kensington and Chelsea, NSL and the Council.
"Whilst GMB are trying to find a common sense approach to the current position, unfortunately this has not been helped by NSL advising that they will revert back to the original offer of 1.5% which was never going to alter the mood of our members in NSL Parking Enforcement."
ENDS
Contact: Shaun Graham 07885 706 556 or GMB London Press Office 07970 114 762
Notes to Editors
Previous GMB Press Release
GMB call on clients and contractors to ensure they pay London Living Wage (14 May 2018) https://www.gmblondon.org.uk/news/gmb-call-on-clients-and-contractors-to-ensure-they-pay-london-living-wage
