COUNCIL workers are being urged to think hard before voting for strike action in the dispute over altered working hours.

Council leader Peter Smith said he hoped colleagues would realise such action could achieve little since well over half of all affected staff have now agreed to a 37 hour contract.

And he said anyone signing a 37 hour contract would still benefit from a negotiated reduction to 36 hours if savings can be jointly agreed by management and unions.

Cllr Smith said: "I am very pleased that more than half of all staff have now signed new contracts but it is very disappointing that the unions still intend to ballot for strike action.

"It is hard to see what this could achieve other than a loss of earnings for their members and damage to the public who depend on the excellent services which our staff provide -- especially since I have promised that nobody who signs up to the new contract will be disadvantaged if we can reach agreement at a later stage to reduce hours.

"I accept the action we have taken is not popular -- even an extra nine minutes a day is bound to be unpalatable and we sought seriously to avoid it.

"However I believe the majority of our staff now realise from every point of view -- financial, legal and moral -- it is the only way forward for the authority.

"No industrial action can alter that or weaken our determination to protect services and the jobs of all our employees. I am sure we can in constructive negotiation reach agreement.

"That is the way to go forward, not ballots for strike action. If agreement was reached in Salford I am sure we can do the same for Wigan."