A GROUP of health care assistants from Bolton are threatening to take their new bosses to an industrial tribunal in a row over "unequal" pay.

Health union Unison claims that 70 out of the 90 Bolton assistants have already filled in forms to take the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Partnership to court.

Although they work on the mental health wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital, the workers are now employed by the Salford-based trust.

Bolton workers, who have an average wage of £10,000, claim they are paid £5,500 less than their Salford counterparts for doing the same job.

Yesterday, a coachload of protesters travelled to the Basic Neurocare Centre in Eccles New Road, Salford, where mental health chiefs were due to hold their monthly board meeting. They waved banners demanding equal pay.

A spokeswoman for the Salford-based trust said a "harmonisation" strategy was being put together. She added: "The Partnership is aware of the issues raised by Unison and have had regular meetings with staff representatives over these issues.

"There is a range of pay harmonisation issues to address covering many staff groups, of which health care assistants in Bolton are one."

Stuart Carter, who represents the Bolton workers, said the strength of feeling over the dispute had grown stronger, blaming the management's lack of a clear offer.

He said: "They have not committed a penny to redress this issue.

"Initially, it would cost them £24,000 to put Bolton workers on to a national pay scale this year. Out of a budget of £60 million, this is not asking too much. We will fight for enhancements and unsocial hours pay for next year."

Representatives of the mental health partnership, set up as part of the Government's sweeping reforms of the NHS in April, are to meet Mr Carter tomorrow.

He said: "The Bolton staff are still hopeful that things will be sorted out -- but they are getting inpatient."