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Blackburn and Darwen council is in last ditch talks over a pay dispute, it has been reported.

The borough council is trying to prevent strike action by council workers in a dispute over equal pay, according to Personnel Today.

Union bosses say that 600 employees, including school caretakers, refuse collectors and library staff would strike on May 7th if the differences were not solved.

This could be good news for students working for this council part-time to support their studies, as the talks could avoid a forthcoming pay cut.

It could also avoid any similar moves being made by councils nationwide, meaning that any students working part-time for a local authority may feel more confident that their wages will not be cut.

The GMB union said 600 workers from the council would join the strike over a pay review of 5,500 jobs, concluding that a quarter of salaries would fall.

Graham Coxon, GMB organiser told the publication that workers would strike indefinitely.

"It could go on for a day, a week, or a month. The council needs to be aware that members will not accept levelling down as a way of introducing the long sought equal pay in the council," he said.

"The streets won't be cleaned, and people's bins won't be emptied. I think the impact on the council services will be catastrophic. The members of the two unions are so far across the spectrum that it's going to affect most departments," he concluded.

Meanwhile, council workers in Birmingham went on a two-day strike this earlier month over a row about controversial new employment contracts, the Birmingham Mail reported.

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