WILTSHIRE Council is reminding people that all parking restrictions and charges will still be active despite upcoming strike action.

GMB, the trade union for Wiltshire Council staff, expressed its intention to strike this Saturday, May 7, with a picket line alongside a rally and demonstration outside Salisbury Library.

Terence Herbert, chief executive of Wiltshire Council, said: “While the strike is being held on Saturday 7 May, residents should continue to pay for parking as normal, as all charges and restrictions remain in place.”

The industrial action is over proposals to make changes to the council’s current unsocial, standby and callout policies.

GMB state that these changes could see traffic wardens losing about £2,000 per year, a 10 per cent reduction.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

The council say it has paused negotiations on changes to current unsocial hours policies and has set up a group comprised of three recognised trade unions, UNISON, Unite the Union, and GMB, with the aim of reaching an agreement so that negotiations can re-commence by the end of June.

Keith Roberts, GMB regional organiser said: “The council has paused these cuts but not taken them off the table. 

“The uncertainty caused by this has caused a crisis of confidence in staff and many staff have already left or are looking for other jobs.”

Terence described the timing of the strike as ‘strange’, he added: “We recognise the right for GMB members to take industrial action if they wish, but it seems strange to do so at this time, given that no final decisions have been made.

“Workers’ pay is not being cut; we are reviewing specific proposals related to unsocial hours, standby and call out policies, and no final decisions have been made. However, we do need to make some changes to ensure we continue to stay on a strong financial footing, making savings without making redundancies.”