COUNCIL workers in Herefordshire are coming to terms with a radical pay shake-up that has seen some employees lose up to 30 per cent of their income.

Amid highly charged scenes on Tuesday, more than 5,500 employees found out whether they were winners, losers or non-movers in the union-backed review.

Though some people are facing huge pay cuts, council bosses are adamant the total wage bill has not fallen.

Chief executive, Neil Pringle, said: "Both the unions and ourselves went into this with our eyes open.

"We understand that when you open the envelope it can be difficult but we are asking staff to stay with us, work with us and we will try to work through this issue."

Although there is an appeals process and losers in the council review are protected from a drop in salary for four years, changes have resulted in a flood of calls to The Hereford Times.

One caller called the review 'savage', another said they were 'appalling', adding: "That Herefordshire Council can act in such a cavalier manner is totally unacceptable.

"What will people do who have mortgages? How can the council get away with this?"

While council leaders try to calm emotions, a series of union meetings and ballots over the next few days will decide whether or not to accept the changes.

Unhappy

Eddie Clark, branch secretary of UNISON, said: "We have been deluged with phone calls. I think it is fair to say our members are not happy with this."

While unions are in agreement over the salary changes, they are not happy about a raft of alterations to benefits enjoyed by council workers.

These include holiday, overtime and car allowances. Of the 22 changes, Mr Clark said only one represented a positive outcome for his members.

The evaluation comes from trying to tackle inequality in pay structures brought about by the amalgamation of five authorities in 1998 under the umbrella of Herefordshire Unitary Authority.

Herefordshire Council is one of the first authorities in the country to undergo the process.

Mr Pringle said: "By necessity, if you are trying to carry out such a review there will be winners and losers.

"But the job evaluation process sees more gainers than losers. About one-third have gone up, one-third down and one-third stayed the same."

Mr Pringle also moved to scotch rumours that the review had seen a hike in salaries for council directors. He said: "The chief executive and directors had their pay review four years ago. We have not seen any change this time round. I cannot comment on individual cases but, like the other evaluations, the pot of money available did not change under our review."

UNISON members were expected to discuss the issue at a meeting at Hereford Town Hall last night.