7:36pm Monday 3rd March 2008
By Tom Moseley
ANGRY council staff protested outside Blackburn Town Hall over controversial changes to their salaries.
Around 40 Blackburn with Darwen Council workers gathered to voice their opposition to the new pay scale which is being introduced.
The demonstration was organised by council staff using a website forum they had set up as a reaction to the job evaluation review.
It came as the authority's full council met to agree its budget for the coming year, which will include the equal pay scheme.
The Government has told councils across the country to reassess all their jobs in a bid to end pay inequality between men in women.
Blackburn with Darwen is one of the first councils of its type to set up a new pay scale - and there have already been protests in other parts of the country where staff have lost out.
The unpopular changes to staff salaries will see more than 1,000 town hall wages cut by up to £15,000.
Men, women and children joined the protest, some carrying placards.
They gathered as councillors who were due to take part in the meeting arrived.
And some opposition Labour councillors came out to voice their support for the demonstration, which took place at 5.30pm today.
One member of staff told the Lancashire Telegraph he would have to sell his house after being told his salary would be cut by £4,000.
The 50-year-old, who did not want to be named, has worked for the council for 32 years.
He said staff had been told to sign a letter agreeing to the changes or they would face losing their jobs.
He said: "We are being bullied into signing something that will affect every worker's life.
"A lot of people signed it under duress.
"I have been here since I left school. What am I supposed to do now?"
A woman carrying a placard protesting against the changes added: "My wages have been cut by £1,000.
"The process is not equitable at all."
Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Colin Rigby said that he accepted the protestors had a right to voice their concerns.
The pay changes follow a review of 5,500 council jobs.
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