Thousands of Shropshire Council workers are to be balloted over whether to accept a new deal which would see a proposed pay cut reduced to 1.9 per cent next year.

Talks to end the dispute continued yesterday after council bosses unveiled the new deal. The proposed cut was originally 2.7 per cent.

The deal also includes giving staff two extra days of paid leave during this year’s Christmas break, and increasing business travel expenses from 40p per mile to 45p per mile from the start of next April.

Unison’s branch executive committee had asked the authority to return to the negotiating table after failing to approve the offer, but this afternoon said it would ballot its members after council chiefs refused to alter their offer.

Alan James, branch secretary for Shropshire Unison, said: “We have agreed with the authority that we are going to go away with the plans.

“The offer done by the council stands. On Thursday and Friday next week, we are having meetings with members to update them and ask them to give their views.”

Meetings for members will be held in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Wem before a ballot is taken.

Mr James added that further industrial action was a ‘real possibility’ should members opt to reject the council’s proposals.

He said: “I hope we are not looking at potential strike action. But it is down to the membership.”

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said: “We have come to a package that has been shared with staff and we’re getting really positive feedback. We understand that Unison need to get a consensus from their membership and we’ll work with them to get an agreeable consensus.

“We have had a meeting this week to talk about the day-to-day working practices with the unions, and that was very positive. I am pleased with the discussions we have been having with the unions, and am confident these will continue in the same positive vein.”