THE skills section of Darlington Borough Council is threatening industrial action if its 250 employees have monthly pay foisted on them.

The changeover from weekly pay packets is identified in the authority's present budget as a way of saving £26,000.

But Mick Gaskin of the AEEU, now Amicus, told the D&S Times that the proposal would cause hardship to the employees who carry out council house and other repairs.

"In 1972, when we changed from cash in hand to bank payments, we were given a sweetener of one week's pay. But this time we are being offered nothing but an interest free loan."

The union had asked for £1,000 each - £250 for each week of the month - as a starting point for negotiations, which ground to a halt in December.

"Single status came in two or three years ago with the idea of bringing us all into line with the same pay and conditions. But the skills section was not part of the agreement.

"We can't agree with it because we rely on bonuses to give us a good wage. You don't know how much that will be even if you are paid weekly.

"We won't get that bonus until the following month under the new scheme and we already have a lot of problems with shortage of wages for a couple of weeks.

"We maintain it will cause personal hardship because a lot of our members already have trouble juggling a weekly wage."

Mr Gaskin added: "We want the status quo and if we don't get that a lot of people have said they will leave. There will be some form of industrial action if this is not resolved."

Paul Wildsmith, director of central services, told Monday's resources scrutiny committee that he did not realise that it was two months since talks were held with the union.

He denied the changeover would be pushed through regardless. "The fact that it is in the budget doesn't mean it will be forced through," he stressed. "It will go through formal negotiations."