COUNCIL workers could be balloted on strike action amid claims they are being offered a below-inflation pay rise.

Local union representatives say the final offer of 2.45 per cent with an extra boost for the lowest pay scales is "effectively a pay cut".

And they warn that unless a new and improved offer is forthcoming in the next fortnight, staff will be asked whether they want to go on strike.

Bournemouth-based Bob Lanning, Unite's regional industrial organiser, said: "If this is the absolute final, final offer we can get from them then we most certainly will be going to ballot.

"Everybody knows that inflation figures have been running above four per cent for 18 months so to get an offer of 2.45 per cent is derisory.

"At the very least, workers expect a pay rise in line with inflation.

"Feelings are very, very high. I would expect that if we go to ballot, it will result in a strike mandate.

"GMB, Unison and Unite have a huge membership across Dorset and so any strike would affect everybody. We're talking every single type of council worker you can think of."

The pay talks affect more than one million local government and associated workers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Unions are claiming a pay rise of six per cent or 50 pence an hour, whichever is the greater, which would give a minimum wage of £6.50 an hour.

Brian Baldwin, chair of the employers' side of the National Joint Council, said: "Any settlement has to be affordable both to the taxpayer and councils while at the same time making sure that local government continues to be an attractive place to work.

"If the pay settlement is set too high, councils will be forced into making unpalatable choices between cutting frontline services and laying off staff. Neither unions nor employers want either of these options."