The action on 16 October by 58,000 members of the public services union Unison, as well as thousands of GMB and TGWU members who work in education, social services and environmental services, was in pursuit of a flat-rate 4,000 London weighting claim. It followed the withdrawal by the Greater London Provincial Council (GLPC) of a weighting offer of 201 for workers earning less than 14,800 a year.
The GLPC said the money 'would have been in addition to the generous rise of between 7.7 and 11 per cent agreed last September'. But a Unison spokeswoman said it would have benefited only 40 per cent of the local government workforce.
The strike closed 161 schools, 30 libraries and other council facilities across all of the city's 32 boroughs. At one point 2,000 people marched across Blackfriars Bridge to a rally in Lambeth to protest that they have lower levels of London weighting than other public service workers.
But the Association of London Government said meeting Unison's demands would mean either raising council tax by 90, cutting services or axing 11,000 jobs across the city. Councillor Ann John, chair of the employers' side, said, 'Unison has left us no option but to withdraw the offer of 200 to lower-paid workers. This will be particularly disappointing to members of the GMB and TGWU who accepted the offer, and other council staff who would have benefited.'
Julie Coleman, secretary of the joint trade union side and Unison's head of local government in London, said, 'The trade unions are very angry at the stance the employers have taken. The T&G has indicated they will ballot their members for further industrial action.
'Unison has asked the employers to seriously reconsider their position. We have a fresh mandate and our resolve is stronger than ever.'
Following the meeting on 16 October with the GLPC, at which it withdrew a London weighing offer accepted in April, the GMB warned of more industrial unrest. Ted Purcell, GMB regional organiser for local government, said the union was 'extremely disappointed' at GLPC's decision . He added, 'We will be consulting with our 28,000 members to decide the appropriate course of action and hope to let the employers know by early December.'
A Unison spokeswoman said, 'We are not going away over this issue. London is an expensive place to live and it is a struggle for local councils to recruit and retain staff because of this.
'We will take further industrial action. The ball's in their court.'
Since May 2002, Unison has staged three all-out strikes and 13 selective actions to highlight the issue of low levels of London weighting for its members.
