HUNDREDS of Bromley Council staff downed tools for two days and formed a picket line in protest over pay.

Unison members from all 33 London boroughs want the London weighting element of their wage increased to £4,000, to address the high cost of living in and around the capital.

All three of the day care centres for people with learning disabilities Astley, Leesons and Oakfield were closed for the day and senior managers had to go "back to the floor" to keep services running in many local libraries.

Unison branch secretary Glenn Kelly said: "The strike was very solid.

"More people have joined the union in the past five weeks than usually would in six months. Some of the libraries closed early, there were no staff in any of the parks and the homeless service was practically shut down.

"The employers now want to settle the national pay claim first, and ballot papers have gone out for industrial action.

"So, during the summer, we could be part of a million council workers going on strike."

One striker said: "The amount we are paid is ridiculous and every single member of the public has given us their full support.

"Living in Bromley is too expensive for a lot of people. There are some very wealthy people in this borough but the rest are often just forgotten about."

She added: "I think it's important we're all out here, telling people about the situation."

Chief personnel officer Susan Ryall said: "We managed to keep most services going, though we had to close some classrooms in one special school.

"We are certainly hoping for as speedy a resolution as possible.

"While we do recognise the difficulties for staff, the reality is this claim would be very expensive."

Bromley's refuse workers, members of the Transport and General Workers Union, may also go on strike, this summer.

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