A union chief has vowed that parking wardens will stay off the streets “indefinitely” unless their demands are met as strike action enters its third week.

Parking wardens in Camden first walked out on July 24 after failing to agree a pay deal with the council’s private contractor NSL.

More than two weeks later, Unison Camden branch secretary Liz Wheatley told Ham and High that the strike would continue until workers receive “a significantly improved offer”.

The union has called for workers to receive a pay rise from £12.70 an hour to £15.90 this year.

NSL’s most recent offer would see parking wardens paid £15 an hour from April 2025, with their pay incrementally increased over the next three years.

The contractor added that it was open to an “achievable” offer by the union, but that current demands are “around triple the rate of inflation”.

But Ms Wheatley disputed this characterisation and claimed that wardens are asking for a high increase in percentage terms only because their salary is already so low.

She said: “When you think that food inflation has been up in the high teens for the past few months, and energy inflation has been higher, for lower-paid people it takes up a disproportionate amount of their income.”

Ms Wheatley added: “Rather than NSL saying that Unison is being unrealistic or too demanding for that level of increase they should be looking at why they feel £15.90 isn’t an appropriate and realistic amount to pay somebody to work in London.”

Unison has been awarding strike pay to workers since they walked out, although Ms Wheatley emphasised that this is “not the equivalent of a salary”.

She said: “[Workers] lose pay for every day they’re on strike. That’s how seriously they take the campaign for a decent wage – they can’t afford not to have a decent wage.”

A spokesperson for NSL’s parent organisation, Marston Holdings, said: “We have proposed a third and significantly increased offer of 18.1% over three years to Camden Unison.

“However, this was not seen as a big enough offer by the Union to attend an ACAS meeting and is maintaining that a 25.2% increase now is the minimum to end the strike.

“We understand that striking staff are being financially supported by the branch to continue the action, so there is little incentive for them to return to work.”

A UNISON spokesperson said: “NSL needs to do the right thing, and pay its staff fairly.

“These workers deliver a vital service to the community, often facing abuse from angry motorists. They work long hours doing a difficult job. 

 "NSL must put a sensible offer on the table. When it does, UNISON is ready to meet to discuss how to end the strike."

A Camden Council spokesperson said: "We continue to support both parties, urge them to come to an agreement and to resolve this dispute as swiftly as possible.

“We would like to remind residents, business and visitors that they should continue to park correctly and adhere to parking restrictions to avoid any possible penalty charge notices."