Thousands of North Tyneside Council workers could be forced to pay to park at work. 

GMB Union is urging the local authority to scrap the plans – which could see staff stumping up to park at council offices and leisure centres across the borough. 

Meanwhile councillors are set to trouser a £6,000 pay rise if the increase is nodded through at a vote of the full council meeting tomorrow [Thursday]. 

Stuart Gilhespy, GMB Organiser, said: 

“Forcing thousands of council workers – many of them low paid – to park at work is wrongheaded and ill thought out. 

“Doing it while councillors trouser a six grand pay rise is completely grotesque and will make people wonder whose side the council is on. 

“Everyone knows the council is hard up – but slashing workers' wages while the top brass get more money is not the answer. 

“If North Tyneside Council is serious about supporting staff through the cost-of-living crisis, it must drop this proposal and focus on retaining and attracting talent, not driving it away.” 

ENDS

Media enquiries: GMB Press Office on 07958 156846 or at [email protected]