CHURCH bosses have been accused of being heartless and unchristian following a major review of jobs at Blackburn Cathedral.

Around ten administration workers at the Blackburn diocese headquarters have been told they should be earning less money.

The move means the workers face a wage freeze for the foreseeable future and will see a drop in their pension payments.

Union officials have labelled the review "unchristian " and plan to appeal against the decision.

A system based on points set up by Blackburn diocesan officials sparked off the controversy.

Staff have seen the salaries for the jobs they do down-graded by anything from £2,000 to £7,000, according to union officials. Local Unison official Jim Noble has been taking legal advice about the church's decision to downgrade the jobs.

He said: "The whole episode is absolutely disgraceful. Considering that this is the Church of England there is not much charity or Christianity on show.

"Some of these people have worked at the church for most of their lives and they have been treated very badly.

"We will be appealing to the church but apart from that I can't see these people wanting to take further action."

Mr Noble added: "We have been to our solicitors to see if what the church has done is legal."

A spokesman for Blackburn diocese said: "Obviously we have an established grievance procedure for all church employees and in this case these procedures are by no means exhausted.

"If any individual does appeal they would be treated sympathetically within this procedure."

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