ALMOST one in four local authority workers in Lancashire earns less than £5 an hour, according to a union survey.

The percentage of low paid council workers in the North West is the highest in the country.

Figures released by the T&G union show that there are 28,960 local authority workers in Lancashire and Cheshire on less than £5 an hour.

The T&G is currently campaigning for the Government to act on the Low Pay Commission's report and implement a 10p rise in the national minimum wage to £3.70.

"The minimum wage was intended to be a statement against poverty. It is slowly being turned into a monument to political inertia," said Bill Morris, T&G secretary.

And he said that low pay within local government needed to be addressed.

"You can't have 'best value' on worst wages. The Government's decision not to raise the national minimum wage is likely to have a knock on effect on the lowest paid workers throughout industry."

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