TOWN hall workers have laid down a pay claim to tackle what they say is a recruitment crisis in Bury.

Bosses of trade union Unison, which represents thousands of local authority staff, wants councillors and MPs to back them.

They say that poor pay means Bury cannot attract and keep staff, leading to poorer quality services to residents.

Unison's main claim is for £1,000 on the basic pay of all staff, which would mean that everyone is on a minimum rate of £5 an hour.

Branch secretary Steve Morton said: "Our members are being asked to do more and more for less and less.

"Vulnerable people in our community deserve the best possible treatment and all Bury residents want the clean, safe environment our members provide. "But local government pay has fallen behind other groups in the public and private sectors in recent years. Supermarkets, offices and call centres are often paying more than the council, offering more flexible work patterns and are attracting many local government workers as a result.

"People looking for jobs are giving local government the thumbs down."

Unison's members include home carers, classroom assistants, nursery nurses, school meals workers, benefits advisors, library assistants, environmental health officers and residential home workers.

Mr Morton added: "Over the last 20 years our job has been made more and more difficult by low pay, cuts in staffing and under-investment in buildings and equipment by central government.

"That is why we are calling on our local councillors and MPs to support this year's pay claim and press the Government to put its money where its mouth is."

The pay claim is decided at national level by representatives from unions and employers. Bury Council will pay staff whatever is negotiated.