Strikes started again across the capital today as low-paid local government workers walked out, according to Unison.

The action by Unison members - which could last five days - involves Camden, Ealing, Havering, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Islington, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Brent, Haringey, Newham, Waltham Forest and Westminster.

The action comes in response to council leaders' pay talks tactics last week. The councils had offered a £201 increase in London weighting for staff up to Scale Point 10 (Inner London £14,796, Outer London is £14,028), and nothing for all other staff.

They then threatened to withdraw this offer completely in July if it was not accepted.

Current London weighting in London boroughs is between £1500 and £2850. But UNISON has worked out that council staff need £4,000 to alleviate the cost of working and living in London.

Other public sector employers agree, for example the London Fire Brigade gets £4,300 and the government's proposals for NHS pay, Agenda for Change, also proposes London weighting between £3,000 and £5,000.

"If council leaders think the unions will bow down to threats and intimidation, they had better think again," said David Eggmore, chair of the union's London local government committee.

"When the offer was made UNISON consulted its branches. There was no indication from a single borough, in fact not even a single member, that the offer should be accepted. It was therefore rejected unanimously.

"The feeling amongst UNISON members about the £4,000 claim is getting stronger, not weaker.

"London weighting is a cost-compensation payment and we are therefore seeking an across-the-board increase - this has been our consistent position.

"If the employers don't make a decent offer to all council-employed staff they could face massive further action not seen so far during the year-long dispute."

Unison Web site