Council services in Kingston face disruption this week as three trade unions call out their members on a one-day strike.

Local government workers from Unison, the Transport and General Workers Union and the GMB will walk out on Wednesday, July 17, the third time in as many months.

Staff from the social services, housing benefit and council tax departments will be striking, as well as many administrative staff from within the Guildhall, say the unions. But essential services for children and the elderly will not be affected.

The council has been playing down the strike saying it is not anticipating any major disruptions.

Unions have rejected a pay offer of 3 per cent from the local authorities and are holding out for a 6 per cent rise.

In London, the unions are also in dispute with councils about London weighting, which they want to see raised to £4,000.

Alex Yap, Kingston branch representative for Unison, which represents 700 council workers in the borough, said they had been falling behind their private sector counterparts for years.

"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."

Tommy Douras, service sector head for the south east region of the TGWU said that further industrial action was likely and would mainly target councils' revenue making units, such as parking control.

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."

The National Joint Council, which negotiates on behalf of local authorities, argues that 3 per cent is well ahead of the inflation rate and the same as the average pay settlement in the economy as a whole.

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.

July 15, 2002 10:00