COUNCIL workers are on a collision course with their bosses over new pay demands.

Town hall bosses have dismissed their calls for a four per cent rise plus other bonuses as "unsustainable", claiming the move would lead to job losses.

But union leaders - who represent 6,500 council staff in the borough - are refusing to rule out industrial action unless something is done to their wages stop them falling further behind other public sector workers.

Cllr Bob Howarth, leader of the council, said: "This is way, way beyond the level we are prepared to go to.

"With all the extras it would mean something like a 15 or 16 pc increase to their wages.

"We have allowed for a three per cent rise in the council budget and anything more would entail job losses." Discussions are taking place between union officials - representing Unison, the Transport and General Workers' Union and GMB - and the local Government Employers' Organisation to find a solution to the national dispute.

Union leaders want a four per cent rise on top of a £200 pay increase and the introduction of a minimum wage of £6.04-an-hour.

They are also demanding 25 days paid holiday a year and better training and maternity provision. It is the first pay claim submitted since unions staged nationwide industrial action in 2002.

Martin Challender, branch secretary of the Unison Bolton Metro branch, described the demands as "modest".

He said: "The council has just been rated as excellent and this is down to the hard work of employees who are working hard to deliver services.

"Local supermarkets, offices and call centres are paying more than the council for less demanding work.

"We are disappointed by this response from a council which has just introduced a council tax rise of 3.9pc."

However, deputy council leader Cllr Guy Harkin denied the council was being hypocritical in refusing to increase wages by a similar amount to council tax bills. He said: "If council tax was frozen would they want no pay rise at all - I don't think so. You have to look how all increases are going to affect our workers before you start judging how their cost of living is affected."

Members of the council branch of Unison will discuss the claim at their Annual General Meeting on Thursday.