LANCASHIRE County Council staff will today go on strike in a row over changes to their pay.

The 43 staff vehicle maintenance engineers, many of whom are based at Hapton, are angry at cuts to their bonuses and terms and conditions.

Unions said they were ‘saddened’ that last-ditch talks had failed to find an agreement. The one-day strike could pave the way for further action if no deal is reached.

The aggrieved workers are mostly based at Network 65 business park, off junction nine of the M65, and Bamber Bridge as well as other locations across Lancashire including Whalley.

They are specialists employed to maintain the county council’s fleet of vehicles, which includes fire engines, highways wagons, gritting lorries and minibuses.

Today’s action, by members of the Unite union, will be the first time the controversial job evaluation process has led to strike action at County Hall.

Unison members took ‘action short of a strike’ last year over the equal pay review, which affected salaries and introduced new terms and conditions.

Nigel Finnamore, director of Lancashire County Commercial Group, said: "All councils have been required to carry out equal pay reviews to ensure people are paid fairly and are employed on equal terms and conditions, and the process has been championed by trade unions nationally.

"Whilst our priority is to maintain services and contingency plans are in place, we're disappointed that a small number of Unite members employed to maintain the county's vehicle fleet are planning to take industrial action.”

Les Parker, of the Unite union, said: “It’s sad that we’ve not been able to come to an agreement.

“This is all to do with job evaluation and the mess it created.”