UNION chiefs are facing a showdown with Haringey Council after demanding a pay rise of at least £1,000 for each local authority employee.

Representatives of Unison, the public sector union, are pressing London borough councils to abolish inner and outer London weighting in local government wage packets.

It would mean a flat rate weighting allowance of £4,000 for each London employee.

Branch secretary Sean Fox said: "This has long been a problem for our staff, who work with some of the most difficult problems to be encountered anywhere, and yet get paid more than £1,000 a year less than someone working ten minutes down the road."

Union members blame the cost of living and accommodation in the capital for the pay demand.

Unison says that the weighting system is having a serious impact on recruiting staff to work in London.

Negotiations are to begin in the near future.

The council employs 6,700 staff, excluding teachers.

Haringey Council leader George Meehan said: "We do recognise the difficulties of living in London. It's an issue for the whole of local government.

"Everybody is affected by the cost of living in London and it's an issue that we are all aware of."

The average cost of a house in London is approximately £120,000 and first time buyers would need to earn £38,000 to afford to buy.