‘Scrooge’ Serco

Unite has vowed to leave ‘no stone’ unturned in its defence of members employed by outsourcing giant Serco, on the Ealing council parking contract, who face losing their jobs early in the new year.

Just days before Christmas Serco, who took over the contract in April, has announced that it intends to make eight of the 60 civil enforcement officers redundant in early January.

All 60 workers have been placed at risk. To make the situation worse Serco has failed to meaningfully consult with Unite and moved straight to individual consultations, denying the union the opportunity to properly respond.

As it is an Ealing council contract Unite is seeking an urgent meeting with the the council and will be asking them to directly intervene.

If Serco do not withdraw the threat of job losses and begin meaningful consultations with Unite, the union will move directly to ballot the workforce for industrial action.

Unite regional officer Clare Keogh said, “Serco is behaving like the worst type of Scrooge employer, by announcing job losses just before Christmas.

“Our members feel like Christmas is cancelled as their jobs are hanging by a thread,” he added.“Our members perform a vital role in ensuring transport in Ealing is kept moving while bringing in vital income for the council, they deserve to be treated better than this.

“Unite will be seeking an urgent meeting with Ealing council to ensure they step in and bring Serco to heel,” Keogh went on to say.

“Unite will leave no stone unturned in defence of our members and if the threat of job losses is not immediately removed, it will begin balloting immediately for industrial action.”