TRAFFIC wardens are preparing to strike over council plans to contract out their jobs to a private company.
The Unison and GMB unions have held a ballot which favours industrial action if parking services do not remain in-house.
Unison representative Sahel Yusuf Ali fears a private company would focus on ticket numbers, leading to unnecessary fines, and reduce employment rights for workers.
He said: "Ever since parking services moved in-house in October last year, the department started mending fences with the public, they issued a parking guide for the first time and ticket numbers went down. Regulations are there to maintain order on the streets but abuse of the system is no good for anyone.
"I have spoken to the head of HR for one of the leading bidders. They said they would freeze pay, that they didn't recognise trade unions or run pension schemes.
"There is staunch opposition from both enforcement officers and the public and if they contract the service out it is not a matter of whether we will strike, but when we will strike."
A council spokeswoman claimed the unions' fears were unfounded. She said: "It is absolute nonsense to suggest that we would employ a private company that would exploit the parking system.
"The council's enforcement service was brought in-house as a temporary measure last year and the council agreed to monitor how it compared with other private companies.
"This is currently being evaluated and recommendations are due to be made to the council's cabinet in the new year. No decision has yet been made. The council is committed to providing a good quality service offering value for money."
