London parks and policing staff balloted over industrial action

Staff
in London’s Royal Parks Agency and Constabulary are deciding whether to take
industrial action over a pay offer.

The
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has sent strike ballots to its
members in the Royal Parks Constabulary and PCS and Prospect members in the
Royal Parks Agency. A pay offer by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
has been due since 1 September 2001.

Staff
are voting on action including a ban on voluntary overtime and work to rule,
with an additional ban on rest day working for Constabulary staff who police
the parks. The action could start before the end of the month.

Neil
March, PCS Negotiations Officer, said: "It is only with the utmost regret
that staff in London’s Royal Parks are considering industrial action. They
played a vital role in the Jubilee celebrations enjoyed by so many people and
they were looking forward to providing a season of summer events such as the
Party in the Park, the Diaspora Music Village, Proms in the Park and the Flora
Women’s Challenge.

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"The
delay and inaction of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Royal
Parks management is putting these events in jeopardy by depriving a committed,
hardworking team of their usual annual pay increase."

By Quentin Reade