Union pay demands 'would cost London taxpayers £600m'

As Housing Today went to press, Unison and the T&G were planning a two-day strike after rejecting a 3% pay offer. The GMB has also threatened to strike.

But the ALG warned that strike action in May had failed to secure extra cash for pay hikes. It said local government employers needed more time to make a case for recruitment and retention funding.

The capital's councils face the nationwide 6% or £1750 pay increase plus a demand for a London weighting of £4000. This will cost £600m, the association said. Chair Sir Robin Wales said it would be "unfair" for council taxpayers to pick up the tab for union demands.