Nearly
60 schools in 11 London boroughs are being targeted by trade union strikes next
week (9-13 June) in a dispute over London Weighting.
Unison
is targeting several secondary schools, putting GCSE and A-level exams under
threat. The union is demanding a £4,000 London Weighting increase for all local
government workers in the capital. Libraries, parking attendants, customer
services and housing benefit services are also being targeted in some boroughs.
Councillor
Ann John, chairwoman of Employers’ Side of the Greater London Provincial
Council, called the action unacceptable.
She
said: "Councils and schools have gone to great lengths to ensure exams can
go ahead without disruption. Unfortunately, the union action will mean that
other children will miss out on important lessons and parents will be
inconvenienced.
"These
employees had an above inflation pay rise last year and an additional 3.5 to
4.5 per cent in April this year.”
John
claimed that meeting the unions’ demands would cost London £250m – equating to
an additional £90 per household.
