NSL Camden Parking Dispute

EDM number 604 in 2012-13, proposed by John McDonnell on 18/10/2012.
Categorised under the topics of Pay and Service industries.

That this House notes that the parking enforcement contractor NSL is engaged in an industrial dispute with 160 employees belonging to UNISON on its London Borough of Camden contract, who are taking industrial action to improve average pay, which for most stands at only 8.09 an hour; further understands that NSL has become the largest UK contractor for on-street parking enforcement, having won numerous outsourced contracts from local authorities; notes that at the same time NSL has developed a reputation as a virulently anti-union employer, being now involved in its third significant industrial dispute in three years; further notes that the employer has repeatedly claimed it is not in a position to significantly improve its pay offer to the Camden workforce despite its acquisition of contracts in several London authorities since 2009 where the majority of staff are on a significantly higher rate of pay; congratulates the London Borough of Camden for adopting a commitment to the London Living Wage, but recognises that the situation facing workers on the Camden NSL typifies the circumstances of all too many low-paid, often migrant workers on outsourced contracts for ancillary services across Britain; and calls on NSL to enter into serious negotiations with UNISON and table an improved pay offer, failing which it calls on Camden Council to review its contract with NSL with a view to cancelling the contract if the company does not improve its offer and continues to undermine the income the council receives from parking enforcement in the borough.

This motion has been signed by a total of 16 MPs.