London faces triple strikes

London faces more disruption this week with strikes by local government workers, the Tube and at Heathrow airport.

Unison, the largest union, has ordered council workers out on strike today as part of a selective campaign in the two-year-old dispute over increased London weighting allowances.

The action will include school support staff and those in the homeless units.

Ann John, for the local authority employers, said the strike showed a "callous disregard for the needs of schoolchildren and vulnerable people".

On Thursday evening Tube drivers on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines will walk out on 24-hour strike in protest over the sacking of a colleague who was seen coming out of an Islington squash court while on sick leave.

On Friday and Saturday there will be disruption to Heathrow flights because of a 48-hour strike over pay and working conditions among staff working for Swissport, the baggage handling and cargo loading company.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) were meeting to decide what action to take in their longrunning pay dispute.

They are angry that a promised seven per cent pay rise due last week will be in two stages, with the second half not until the New Year. This has resulted in unofficial walkouts across the UK and demands for a new ballot.

And the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will hold further talks with employers over their pay dispute which continues to delay services.

The Royal Mail is still clearing the backlog of post caused by wildcat strikes.