TRADE union leaders in Burnley have expressed dismay at plans to introduce a national minimum wage of just £3.60p per hour.

And they are calling on the TUC to organise a national demonstration and concerted campaign to change the Government's proposals on union recognition in the workplace.

Burnley Trades Union Council claim the 40 per cent threshold support from workers before employers are compelled to recognise unions, is viewed with concern by all their members - and they are calling for a simple majority of voters to trigger recognition.

Spokesman Peter Jones said: "The feeling of dismay is heightened, given that the policy is viewed by many as a simple betrayal by the Labour Party who made a manifesto promise that a simple majority would suffice."

The Trades Council welcomed in principle the decision to introduce a minimum wage, but say they are disappointed at the low level and exclusions which will apply to younger people.

Said Mr Jones: "The minimum wage has a particular relevance for the people of East Lancashire, whose workers are the lowest paid in England. "Local people have much to gain from a decent minimum."

Calling for the TUC to campaign vigorously for a return to the policy of half-male median earnings, council president Tom Fallows said: "A figure of £3.60 would mean only £144 for a normal working week.

"The TUC figure of £4.61 would mean that the lowest paid workers would be better off by over £40."

But according to Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, 30 per cent of part-time workers in his constituency will benefit from a £3.60 per hour minimum wage.

A further eight per cent will also see their pay rates rise if the figure is adopted by the Government, the MP stated after carrying out his own research into local wage levels.

But Mr Prentice says that while welcoming the introduction of minimum pay levels, he will join trade unionists in pressing for a higher figure.

He said: "Wages are so low in East Lancashire even this modest minimum wage will make an enormous difference to thousands of people. "The minimum will end the practice of Scrooge employers being indirectly subsidised by taxpayers through the tax system."

He added: "Family credit, for example, goes to people in work but on a very low wage."

Mr Prentice's investigations show that were the minimum wage to be set at £4 an hour, 14 per cent of full-time and more than 30 per cent of part time staff in Pendle would be better off.

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