A FRONTRUNNER in the leadership race for one of the country's most influential unions accused Herefordshire Council of "shameful treatment" of 6,000 public servants.

Speaking at a meeting of the Transport and General Workers Union yesterday, Jack Dromey T&G national organiser accused the council of "bullying."

The dispute has arisen over the Single Status National Agreement in Local Government in which council workers' pay and benefits is harmonised.

Mr Dromey led the negotiations on a national scale in 1997, but local union leaders say Herefordshire Council has yet to honour its obligations by introducing a new fair pay and grading structure.

Simon Powell industrial organiser for the Hereford and Worcester Division of the T&G, said the union had been negotiating with the council for four years to harmonise its members' terms and conditions.

However "panic buttons were pressed" after the council proposed a reduction in these benefits, including leave and pay, and negotiations collapsed in January.

He claimed the council offered to move to Single Status but only by making cuts, such as weekend and night working pay.

"We went into negotiations to safeguard the benefits and possibly get a slight improvement but the offer from the council is to the detriment to what our members already enjoy," said Mr Powell.

Mr Powell said the council had issued an ultimatum for workers to accept the offer or face the sack.

But any further action by the union has been stayed after a new set of negotiations were announced to begin tomorrow.

"The risk is still very real," said Mr Powell. "Obviously our workers are concerned about a reduction in terms and conditions, and we will be looking into the legality of that.

"We will do everything in our power to prevent that from happening."

"Herefordshire Council should stop bullying and start talking," said Mr Dromey.

"Our members who are low- paid will never accept cuts to their living standards. This is the 21st Century and there is no place for behaviour that smacks of the style of the 19th Century mill owners.

"It is shameful to suggest that those sacked for refusing pay cuts will not be replaced.

"Who will grit the streets this bitter winter?"

Mr Dromey's launched his West Midlands campaign to replace Bill Morris as T&G General Secretary at the meeting yesterday.