Unison continues fight for London weighting increase

Unison has vowed to continue its fight for a universal London
weighting increase despite the strong rejection of the claim by
local government employers, writes Katie
Leason.

Unison local government members have already taken part in three
days of industrial action over London weighting, which they want to
see increased to £4,000 from £1,407 in outer London and
£2,674 in inner London.

“Public sector workers such as teachers, nurses, fire brigade
staff and police have received increases in London weighting while
local government staff have been left out in the cold,” said Julia
Coleman, Unison’s head of local government for the London
region.

But the Sir Robin Wales, chairperson of the Association of
London Government, continues to maintain that London councils do
not have the money for the increase.

He said that the GLA and the Audit Commission are currently
conducting independent research on London pay, and that when they
have the findings of the research they will discuss the
implications with the unions.

“When the national pay negotiations are resolved councils will
be in a position to consider how to tackle London’s staffing
issues. However, we don’t believe that a £4,000 London
weighting payment for all employees would solve these issues,” he
said.