HUNDREDS of lawsuits could hit cash strapped Herefordshire Council as unions fight a new pay plan they say sees 'disillusioned, demotivated and over-stretched' staff sacked then re-employed on alternative contracts.

Suits for wrongful dismissal are one weapon in the union armoury; another is work-to-rule robbing essential services of any extra input.

The council won't be backing down. Chief executive Neil Pringle said most staff would be better off under a pay structure that is 'fair to all'.

For the unions 'most' is not enough.

On its creation five years ago, Herefordshire Council inherited a number of pay and allowance structures from the previous county and district councils.

Talks with the trades unions - GMB and UNISON - over pay parity have been underway ever since.

These talks broke down last week with the council's insistence on applying new terms without union agreement.

A decision made in the interests of staff said Mr Pringle when such agreement came with 'costly and unacceptable' conditions. The new pay structure would, he said, see the majority 'better off'. Those that lost out through the resulting job evaluation were covered by a four-year protection scheme.

To the unions 'structure' means sacking most non-teaching staff and re-employing them on alternative contracts.

Eddie Clarke of UNISON said 'disillusioned, demotivated and over-stretched' members were ready to launch wrongful dismissal suits against the council should that happen. Action against 'illegal' deduction of wages and a work-to-rule would follow, he said.

"We won't accept a new pay structure presented as a fait accompli."

The GMB strikes a similar stance. Regional organiser Roger Jenkins said the council was cooking up a 'recipe for conflict'.

"This kind of action by any employer is unacceptable. Herefordshire Council's attitude has been that they will only negotiate as along as (the unions) agree with everything they say."