TV licence staff to strike again

Hundreds of TV Licensing workers are to strike for a third time tonight and tomorrow in a dispute over pay.

The Communication Workers Union said a pay offer by employers Capita of between 2.6% to 2.7% for higher grades fell "far short" of inflation.

Union official Andy Furey said: "This is a dispute about fairness. We have a clear case of double standards - one rule for senior executives who award themselves massive pay rises and bonuses and another rule for staff who are expected to suffer with pitifully low rises in pay.

"The truth is that working people are being made to line the pockets of the rich and Capita is a prime example of that.

"These are honest, hardworking people many of whom have never taken strike action before but are struggling themselves and then seeing their bosses take huge pay rises.

"Three days of strike action is unprecedented and we strongly urge Capita to return to negotiations to resolve this dispute before Christmas."

Field officers will halt work tonight, and other workers in Bristol, Darwen and Glasgow will walk out tomorrow.

PA