Union leaders are holding talks with Brighton and Hove council chiefs tomorrow to discuss claims for a £2,000 increase in staff salaries.

Unison, which represents many council staff, will meet authority leaders to discuss a Brighton weighting allowance.

This would see staff receive extra cash to combat the high cost of living in the area, an established practice in London.

Unison representatives will be holding a rally in Bartholomew Square, Brighton, at 12.45pm to inform council workers of the progress of the talks.

The claim for Brighton weighting is part of a regional campaign by Unison for money to be added to salaries across the South-East.

Andy Richards, chairman of the Brighton and Hove branch of Unison, said: "This is a regional campaign. We are representing the lowest paid of workers, most of whom earn under £18,000.

"We feel justified that staff need a weighting payment."

Mr Richards said council services would benefit by paying a weighted salary as staff would remain with the authority for longer.

He said the allowance would help prevent people from leaving their post for employment outside the council once they had received training.

"If you invest in staff the services will be better as a result," he said.

"The next stage, if we can't reach agreement, we would ballot for industrial action but obviously, we hope we can resolve the issue."

Thursday October 16, 2003