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Strike causes road delays

9:06am Friday 20th April 2007

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Striking staff at an Oxford park-and-ride site caused delays for drivers trying to get into the city during the rush-hour this morning.

Staff working at Seacourt park-and-ride, off Botley Road, were taking action between 7.30am and 8.30am.

'"We are not happy inconveniencing drivers but the management do not seem to care about our welfare or the users of the park-and-ride'

Unison representative Craig Barlow

Are park and ride staff in Oxford right to strike over plans to make them work alone at night? Cast your vote in our online poll in the Editor's Choice section

Picket lines were set up at Redbridge on Monday and at Pear Tree on Wednesday but the picket this morning caused the most significant disruption because buses were unable to use the bus lane as traffic backed up as it entered the car park.

Staff are striking because a new working system proposed by the council will mean they will have to patrol the car parks alone at night.

Similar disruption is expected next week at the three city council-run car parks.

Unison representative Craig Barlow said: "We are not happy inconveniencing drivers but the management do not seem to care about our welfare or the users of the park-and-ride.

"We will continue with picketing next week because that is the only way councillors and council officers will take notice."

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Michael, Henley-on-Thames says...
11:09am Fri 20 Apr 07

Isn`t it typical that Management still wont listen to the concerns of the Security men even with them having to resort to strike action.

Do Management not care about the PAYING PUBLIC who these chaps are trying to keep safe, as well as themselves by refusing to work alone at night?

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Katie, West Lafayette says...
11:51am Fri 20 Apr 07

If by picketing the road is the only to get the management's attention, then they aren't much of a management are they? These guys don't want a miricle, they don't wanta significant pay raise, they just want, need to be safe! You have my full support Craig!

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Beryl, Dorchester-on-Thames says...
12:02pm Fri 20 Apr 07

It seems Oxford City Council don't care about their staff or the public. People will stop using the Park and Rides - or go to Thornhill instead, which is free and fully staffed.

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Michael, Henley-on-Thames says...
12:47pm Fri 20 Apr 07

You hit the nail on the head Beryl.

People will stop using the City Council operated park and rides.

I park at Redbridge and return to my car after dark most nights.

I think I will park elsewhere if they cut the security as well as putting the parking up to a pound.

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Claire, Bicester says...
1:20pm Fri 20 Apr 07

I parked my car at the Seacourt park and ride this morning after a long wait in qued traffic.

I used to park at peartree but i was informed on wednesday that the staff there aren`t fighting for their own safety, let alone the safety of the people that use the car park.

The striking security chaps are fighting against a very greedy Council and they have my full support, and of many others who use the park and rides.

Good luck to all.

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Keith, Wantage says...
1:25pm Fri 20 Apr 07

Call out the police and have the pickets swept off the public road.

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Simon, Wootton says...
1:31pm Fri 20 Apr 07

I`m in full support of the park and ride security men.

I was given a leaflet after I signed their petition and it had contact details of who to complain to.

Jean Fooks is the Lib Dem councillor and Graham Smith is the business unit manager.

Both of them can be contacted by writing or telephoning the Oxford Town Hall.

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cassie, Didcot says...
2:29pm Fri 20 Apr 07

I think that the lads are doing a great job standing up for what is clearly important to themselves and the park and ride users. Keep up the good work!!!!
As for sweeping up the pickets, they are fighting for your safety as well as their own, give them a break!!!

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Frederick Shaw, Oxford says...
2:39pm Fri 20 Apr 07

I think it's absurd to expect people to work alone on any of these sites. I live near the ring road and feel intimidated enough walking to my local shops. Just imagine what it's like being standed on your own in the middle of nowhere? It is obvious the council don't care at all about the well being of their staff

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Linda, Abingdon says...
2:42pm Fri 20 Apr 07

What will it take for the council to see sense over this? A serious attack on a member of the public or one of the security guys? Come on OCC start putting safety before profits!

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Susan, Oxford says...
2:56pm Fri 20 Apr 07

I would not want to work alone at night in the car park and would not expect anyone else to do so. I do not like having to pick up my car at night when I am on my own, I feel very vulnerable.
To combine these staff cuts with a projected rise which nearly doubles the cost of parking is ridiculous. While the council are keen to keep cars out of the city, they seem to be going out of their way to make Parking and Riding an unattractive option.

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Robert Warner, Henley-on-Thames says...
3:12pm Fri 20 Apr 07

Of course it is ridiculous to expect security staff to work alone on these large and exposed car parks: and that view is not just from the possibility of a personal attack. As a Health & Safety issue, I would never allow members of my staff to work alone on such sites even during the daytime where anything from a sudden illness or a fall could leave someone lying un-noticed and unattended for an undue length of time. "The animals went in two by two" and so should Oxford's car park attendants!

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Dwight, Oxford says...
3:18pm Fri 20 Apr 07

Why don't the city council just see sense?

The people that pay for the service are being conned. Why are we expected to pay for LESS security for our cars.

How can a single worker fend off car thieves - i'm sure the villains don't operate on their own.

Shame on the city council, penny pinching over safety and trying to exploit the customers.

As for the police sweeping pickets off the road, i think the fraud squad should pay a visit to the Town Hall!!


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CouncilLover, stuck in stupid queue says...
3:27pm Fri 20 Apr 07

The responsibility for most of the council management functions should be taken away from it as they are demented lunatics taking out their warped frustrations by making life difficult for anyone else. Anyone who suffers because of their crazy policies and should refuse to supply them with goods & services. Their cranky ideas obstruct , delay and some cases harm people - they could not a get a proper job doing something useful, so they spend their time ( when they're not off sick or fiddling it some other way ) messing everything up for others. We have to pay more Council tax and decrease our pension contributions so they can retire earlier than everyone else having not done a decent days work in their sad & miserable lives. (from a well-wisher)

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NC, Botley, Oxford says...
6:52pm Fri 20 Apr 07

Well done to the security staff fighting for their absolute 'basic' right. I know a person who works for the council - they have to work alone, at night, attending emergency calls, this means they are called to the most hideous of places, where even the police fear to tread - alone, unsupervised. WE go to work for money, we are trying to be normal, capable, law abiding citizens - the council - too many chiefs, not enough indians, come on council, tell me why you have so MANY middle managers, wagging fingers, pushing paperwork - you need to GET OUT ON THE FRONTLINE like the real men. I salute you, the real workers, well done fpr sticking up for yourself. Let justice win. The comment earlier about if someone suffered illness or a fall whilst alone is a health and safety issue in itself - these council management idiots should get a job in the real world - most of them know inwardly they would NOT be employed out there! IDIOTS.

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sally, says...
9:43pm Fri 20 Apr 07

I have parked at seacourt for years now and was told this morning that dispite the strike action the city council started lone working last monday, but because the staff are still pairing up at night only one is getting paid! now come on lets show our support...

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Anon, Oxford says...
10:05pm Fri 20 Apr 07

Would the situation be any different if one of the car park attendants were a woman, and if so, what if any woman wishes to apply for a post in the future, would she be discriminated against.

Why, in this day and age, when we are all encouraged to keep cars out of the city, should the people who make this a viable option for us(ie. making us and our cars feel secure) be subjected to dangerous situations. Now the council have publicised the fact that it is going to implement lone working, don't they think criminals will now know where to go to commit their crimes.

And it is a fact that the workers are still working 2 per shift even though they have been told only one will get paid. They are obviously very anxious that they do the job they were employed to do (look after our cars and us) even without pay, SHAME ON YOU OCC.

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Edward, Stoke-on-Trent says...
8:03pm Sun 22 Apr 07

Why are all management concerned with money? If they put these people at risk they will eventually leave and they will have nobody to do the work.

All people involved with trading seem to be concerned about cost and not benefit which is wrong in my opinion. I bet they will change their tune if something happened to one of the staff and the others refused to come in.

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Comments are closed on this article.

Striking staff talk to motorists at Seacourt park-and-ride off Botley Road Striking staff talk to motorists at Seacourt park-and-ride off Botley Road

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