Refuse could go uncollected and many services across London are likely to be severely affected on Wednesday as three unions strike over pay.

Members of public service union Unison, the GMB and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) have voted for a national walkout, the first of its kind since 1989.

Industrial action is being taken because the unions are making a £4,000 claim for a flat-rate inner and outer London weighting.

The unions are seeking a 6 per cent pay increase but the National Employers' Organisation for Local Government believes 3 per cent is a reasonable offer and industrial action is not justified.

Unison Merton branch secretary Sean Cunniffe said action would severely affect services and welcomed a Greater London Authority (GLA) scrutiny report which accepted the need for London weighting to be increased.

He added: "Finally it has been recognised that public sector workers are being short-changed and that the fair way to address the problem is to pay employees fairly for the cost of working in the capital.

"Local government workers' pay has failed to keep pace with the private sector over the last 10 years. But because we care about the services we work in, we suffer the consequences of staffing shortages and working unpaid overtime to cover the vacancies.

"This is while the authority spends huge amounts of money hiring consultants, agency and temporary staff that should be used to halt the loss of experienced and qualified staff that it already employs."

A Merton council spokesman said action would adversely affect council services to residents.

He added: "The council will endeavour to minimise this disruption.

"A 6 per cent pay rise would have consequences which would impact upon council charges within all local authorities.

"Three per cent is the average settlement level in the UK economy this year. However, industrial action will adversely affect council services to local residents."

Alex Yap, Kingston branch representative for Unison said: "It's been ridiculous for the last 10 years. We've been getting 2 per cent and it's really an insult to the workforce. In order to get a mortgage now, you're talking about people earning at least £35,000 a year."

A spokesman from Kingston Council said he did not expect the strike to cause any major problems. Refuse collection in Kingston will not be affected, as the service is run by a private contractor.

TGWU service sector organiser Tom Douras said if a 1980s Government pay structure was still in place today, the average London public sector wage would be at least £3,500 higher than at present.

He claimed action would have a serious affect, particularly on refuse and environmental services but not those which "would affect life and limb".

He added: "If you look at some of the members in outer London some people are actually earning less than £5 an hour, or just above with London weighting. This action is about the basic cost of living in the London area."

July 15, 2002 17:00