Nursery World - Childcare staff on strike over London weighting

Nursery nurse and childcare workers belonging to public sector union Unison have gone on strike across London in a long-running protest over London weighting allowances. The strike, which began on 14 July, has now spread to 29 of the 32 London boroughs, after eight new areas went on strike this week. It is expected to run until 8 August in some areas.

The strike, which began on 14 July, has now spread to 29 of the 32 London boroughs, after eight new areas went on strike this week. It is expected to run until 8 August in some areas.

The childcare workers have walked out with other local authority employees, including refuse collectors, street cleaners, telephonists, social services and housing benefit staff. The employers' organisation, the Association of London Government (ALG), estimates about 1,000 Unison members have walked out so far, but Unison puts this figure at closer to 1,800.

The dispute involves 75 members of staff at Barnet's five children and family centres in north London, where three centres have closed and two are operating a reduced service, while around 40 staff at four nursery centres in Ealing began a two-week strike on Monday (28 July), and a day nursery in Barking and Dagenham will be closed for one week from 4 August.

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