Council workers walk out again

Unison wants London Weighting raised to £4,000

Hundreds of council workers are staging the latest in a series of selective strikes in London over pay.

Several boroughs are affected by the walkout by members of the public sector workers union Unison.

School support staff, housing benefit workers and caretakers are among those taking action.

The union is demanding a £4,000 a year London Weighting allowance, but employers say it would mean raising council taxes or cutting jobs.

The pay row has been going on for 18 months and has become one of the country's longest disputes.

Some schools are likely to close early and pupils sent home.

Council tax cost

The Association of London Government, which represents the boroughs, said the strikes are "heartless".

Councillor Ann John said meeting the union's demand would add £90 to council taxes and lead to the loss of 11,000 jobs.

"Councils will once again be doing all they can to minimise the harm caused by Unison's strikes," she said.

The London Weighting allowance, which is paid to cover the extra cost of living in the capital, ranges from £1,400 a year in outer London to £2,600 in inner London.