London: The prospect of attendants not issuing parking tickets is only the tip of the iceberg of next week's council strike.

Almost all services are likely to be severely affected when the three major unions stage a one-day strike on Wednesday next week.

UNISON, GMB and T&G will be taking industrial action next week as part of a nationwide strike.

They are demanding a six per cent pay rise and an increase in their London weighting pay from £1,407 to £4,000. UNISON has already staged three 24-hour strikes in the borough of Barnet.

Gerry McAllister, branch secretary of Barnet UNISON, said that many council workers do not get a living wage.

He said: "The libraries will be closed; some of the schools and nurseries will be closed; some of the daycare centres may be shut. We're certainly aiming to close some of the council buildings but we don't know how achievable that is."

Tony Warr, organiser for GMB in Barnet, said: "I can't think of any services that won't be affected even parking attendants won't be issuing tickets."

Council leader Victor Lyon said there was little he could do about it as it was a national problem.

He said: "I think it's unfortunate. Workers must know that it is a question of how much money the Government is prepared to give.

"In all truth the local representatives regret it because we have very good relations with them."

July 10, 2002 10:30