WE GO to press, UNISON's local ment members in London of council workers. are set for a day of strike Martin said: action ana a major acmonstration on May 14 as part of "Public their campaign for a decent level of London Weighting, increasing y after an overwhelming ballot pitiful The UNISON claim is for a rate £4,000 London Weighting to be paid to all workers the capital. across the capital. The claim seeks to replace the current which range from £1,407 in outer London to £2,674 in inner London.
This claim has been flatly that SUIC rejected by the employers, London will understand that angering tens of thousands it's better to have the short inconvenience of a Regional Convenor Geoff strike than the long term meltdown in our public seracross London are growing SCCLUL workers vices that will be inevitable if the pay issue isn't tackled."
angry at the The strike call has received levels of London strong support form UNIWeighting and they are pre- SON General pared to strike to get a tair Dave Prentis. He said: deal that really reflects the "If councils are cost of living and working in about delivering world class public services in London "The public know that ser- they must pay decent wages vices across London have to their staff. been ravaged by staff short- number of public ages because we can't recruit workers are being forced to at current wage levels. I am leave London because it is so the people expensive - how much furOther do essential services have to decline before the government is prepared to do something about it?" UNISON's Chair of Local Government in Dave Eggmore said: "London the expensive capital Secretary Europe and vital public service workers are leaving, serious resulting in many jobs going unfilled and services on the brink of collapse. "With the Police now paygrowing ing up to £6,000 in London service allowances and many inner London nurses getting over £4,000, it is about time local government workers caught up. Our members' claim of €4,000 is not excessive and a flat rate would help the poorly paid the most.