Staff to strike over London weighting

Local government workers were set to strike this week in some
London boroughs as they seek a flat rate London weighting of
£4,000.

Public sector union Unison said pay talks had broken down when
employers withdrew their original “small” offer to raise the
existing payments of between £1,500 and £2,850 by
£201.

But a Unison spokesperson said this would apply only to workers
earning £14,000 a year or less. Those earning more than
£14,000 or graded above scale 10 would be offered no
additional increase on their existing payments.

Last month, the Local Government Pay Commission recommended a
unified rate of London weighting for public sector workers.

The London Fire Brigade weighting is £4,300 and there are
proposals for NHS staff to receive weighting of between £3,000
and £5,000.

The boroughs affected are Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Ealing,
Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea,
Newham, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster.