STRIKING traffic wardens in York were today setting up picket lines for a second day in protest against changes to their shift patterns.

The City of York Council staff yesterday began seven days of industrial action after the authority switched them from a four-day to a five-day week to save money.

The Unison union claims the new working arrangements would cause extra sickness and stress.

Of the city’s 18 wardens, 15 are on strike and they picketed at the Foss Bank car park, where some of the civil enforcement officers are based, yesterday morning.

They were due to repeat the exercise this morning, as well as protesting at the Castle Piccadilly car park.

The wardens’ 37-hour week will not change under the new system, but Unison said it would not bring savings and will lead to a poorer service.

The union claimed the council had refused to consider alternative proposals.

The authority has said parking in York is being monitored throughout the strike and car parks are operating as normal, with motorists who do not buy tickets at pay-and-display facilities continuing to face enforcement action.

Unison regional organiser Melanie Onn said: “These staff have seen a lot of changes to their service over the years, and this is really the straw which has broken the camel’s back.

“Goodwill is evaporating fast and they are not prepared to give up on this.

“We believe any savings made through these shift changes will be minimal and we hope we can have fruitful discussions with the council, but it does not look hopeful at the moment.

“Staff have arranged their lives against agreed contractual terms, and the new shift system will bring additional physical factors for them.

“Whether people always appreciate it or not, they provide a valuable service in York and we believe residents will notice the difference while they are taking action.”

The council’s parking hotline – 0800 138 1119 – is available during the strike for illegal parking to be reported.

Sally Burns, the authority’s director of communities and neighbourhoods, said the shift changes were designed to enable an “effective and full” parking enforcement service in York and had taken systems used in other parts of the UK into account.

She said the council had worked with Unison to “minimise disruption” caused by the shift changes, but “city-wide coverage” was not possible without a five-day shift pattern.

• Has the strike caused parking problems for you? Call Mark Stead on 01904 567156 or email mark.stead@thepress.co.uk