A NORTH London borough will become a parking free-for-all for five days next week when wardens go on strike in one of at least two such disputes currently pitting the workforce against private contractors.

APCOA Parking employees in Hackney are walking out in support of their demand for a “proper sick pay policy,” as staff in nearby Camden edge closer to a settlement.

Wardens have rejected a 1.5 per cent pay deal for this year and their union Unite said that APCOA was falsely claiming to pay the living wage — including in the pay figures bonuses that only 60 per cent of staff receive.

“As non-guaranteed payments are not supposed to be included in the calculation, the council is engaging a contractor, which despite assurances, is not paying the London living wage,” said Unite regional officer Onay Kasab.

The union is calling for staff to be brought onto the same terms as the in-house council workforce and also demanding an end to the docking of workers’ pay while they are on sick leave.

“Presently, the company pays statutory sick pay only, which is set at £88.45 per week,” Mr Kasab explained.

“The scheme only applies after three consecutive days of sickness — so the first three days are not paid.”

Unite said that at negotiations, bosses had only offered a maximum of seven paid sick days a year, which would only kick in on the fourth day of absence.

In Camden, contractor NSL has tabled a much-improved pay offer for parking wardens following the intervention of 18 Labour councillors, who wrote to the profiteer protesting against its poverty wages.