Unions prepare to fight over London weighting

4 Apr 02
The London boroughs were being warned of industrial action this week as unions stepped up the campaign to increase London weighting payments.

05 April 2002

In a consultative ballot, 85% of Unison's London members voted in favour of strike action, with a formal vote expected in the run-up to the local elections in May.

Unison, the largest local government union, is protesting after employers rejected its claim to increase London weighting from £2,600 to £4,000 a year.

Geoff Martin, Unison's London convener, told Public Finance that strike action was the only route left after employers refused to negotiate on the issue further. He said the increase was essential if the crisis in recruitment and retention was to be tackled.

'We want parity with the police,' he added. 'The police had their London allowance increased to £6,111 and it has made a real difference to recruitment. If it's good enough for the police then its good enough for the rest of us.'

The first round of strike action is scheduled for May 14.

As the dispute worsened, the London Assembly's independent inquiry into London weighting was told that public sector workers were being pushed into poverty.

Giving evidence on March 28, Eddie McDermott, regional secretary for the T&G union, said: 'It is they who kept our capital city running and they should not be forced to live from hand to mouth. London can't afford not to pay a fairer, higher and universal weighting.'

The Assembly-sponsored report is due to be published in the summer.


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