Wiltshire Council resumption of 'Fire and Rehire' leads to renewed strike action

Last year the traffic warden strike in the run up to Christmas caused traffic chaos on the streets all over the county and we have to presume the same will happen again this year, says GMB union

GMB, the union for Wiltshire Council, has issued further strike action for traffic wardens who have previously taken action over their employer’s controversial ‘fire and rehire’ plans. 

The union members took ten days of action in 2022, before suspending the dispute when the employer agreed to shelve plans to use fire and rehire to remove an unsocial hours bonus which constitutes up to 20 per cent of their annual wage for some staff. 

The council has now resumed their plans to use the controversial practice and GMB members will be taking strike action on Saturday 4 November, with further strike dates not ruled out. 

David McMullen, GMB Regional Organiser said:  “Our members took strike action last year to demand the council remove the threat of fire and rehire, and yet here we are again a year later. 

“These are key workers within the council - traffic wardens, social workers and the like – whose jobs keep the county running and who cannot afford to lose 20 per cent of their wages. 

“Last year the traffic warden strike in the run up to Christmas caused traffic chaos on the streets all over the county. 

“Unless Wiltshire Council remove the threat of fire and rehire, we have to presume the same will happen again this year.”