Council staff stage strike over London weighting

London-based
council staff are to strike over London weighting payments next month.

Unions
are demanding £4,000 a year to replace current payment of up to £2,600.

Talks
between the union and employers broke down yesterday when the unions complained
that the employers had refused to make an offer.

The
industrial action, to be held on the 1 October, coincides with Prime Minister
Tony Blair’s speech at the Labour Party Conference.

Geoff
Martin, London convenor of Unison, said the one-day strike will be followed by
a rolling programme of selective industrial action aimed at hitting the
collection of council revenues.

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"The
fact that there has been no offer is a kick in the teeth for the tens of
thousands of low paid workers who are the lifeblood of public services in
London," he said.

By Paul Nelson