A LOCAL authority is facing the prospect of paying its workers an extra £2.5m a year.

A pay evaluation of all Darlington Borough Council's staff has recommended nearly 60 per cent of the workforce is given a pay increase.

However, it has also recommended that some workers - approximately 20 per cent - have their wages reduced, some by as much as £4,000 a year.

Staff at the council will find out tomorrow how their wages will be affected by the deal.

The pay deal has been carried out in consultation with representatives from the public sector workers' union Unison.

Union members will be balloted on the deal and, if a majority agrees to it, it could be in place by July 1.

The job evaluation system has looked at the pay and grading of every job, except teachers and senior officers, within the borough council.

Unison regional officer Howard Pink said he believed the new system was agreed using a fair and equitable system.

He said: "I think it's been a well planned and well negotiated deal and it's been done painstakingly.

"Although some people are losing out, on balance most of our members gain."

Mr Pink said he sympathised with those whose wages were likely to drop.

However, the union had negotiated a three-year protection period where the wages could not drop.

He added: "I understand that some people may be upset and it is unfortunate.

"The system is equitable. Some people may lose up to £4,000 but they are an absolute minority."

The union has also negotiated 31 days paid holiday for all staff.

A council spokeswoman said: "We have been working closely with the trade unions to introduce the single status agreement in a way that enables us to recruit and retain high quality staff and deliver good value services to council tax payers."