Blackburn & Darwen Council in last ditch talks over equal pay dispute

Unions will hold last ditch talks tomorrow with Blackburn & Darwen Council to prevent strike action by council workers in a dispute over equal pay.

The GMB union said that 600 employees at the council, including school caretakers, refuse collectors and library staff, would strike from 7 May if the dispute was not resolved.

It follows a review of 5,500 council jobs which concluded that a quarter of salaries at the council would fall, with some staff on £16,000 a year set to lose up to £4,000.

According to the GMB, a letter sent to council staff warned them they would be sacked if they failed to agree to the new terms within 90 days.

Graham Coxon, GMB organiser warned that workers would strike indefinitely, affecting most departments.

"It could go on for a day, a week, or a month. The council needs to be aware that members will not accept leveling down as a way of introducing the long sought equal pay in the council," he said.

"The streets won't be cleaned, and people's bins won't be emptied. I think the impact on the council services will be catastrophic. The members of the two unions are so far across the spectrum that it's going to affect most departments," Coxon added.