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

Members of public service union UNISON, GMB and Transport and General Workers Union have voted for a national walkout the first of its kind since 1989 over calls for an increase of £4,000 and Merton officials are confident of a virtual shutdown across the borough.

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

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

"Finally it has been recognised that public sector workers are being short-changed and that the fair way to redress 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 and yet 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."

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.

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

"The council will endeavour to minimise this disruption. A 6 per cent pay rise would have consequences which would have an impact upon council charges within all local authorities.

"Three per cent is the average settlement level in the UK economy this year.

"Industrial action will adversely affect council services to local residents however."

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

higher.

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

July 11, 2002 11:00