THOUSANDS of Lancashire County Council staff will vote on industrial action over controversial changes to their jobs.

Unison has received the go-ahead to ballot 11,000 members over the changes that have left thousands of workers worse off.

Council bosses said they were “saddened” and urged the union to reconsider.

It can also be revealed that County Hall’s human resources director Carol Mills is to leave her post after three years.

It is understood that all-out strike action is not being considered by Unison, but the action could include staff refusing to work overtime or to use their cars for work.

Departments such as adult and community services, and children and young people, would be hit as they include large numbers of Unison members.

Schools would also be affected, with hundreds of classroom assistants facing pay cuts.

Unison’s Elaine Cotterill said that the ballot was “imminent”.

Under the equal pay review — an attempt to end inequality between traditional men’s and women’s jobs — all jobs have been re-evualted and set on a new pay scale. Bosses claim the majority of people have seen their wages increase.

But opposition councillors have claimed morale is at “rock bottom” following the pay review and introduction of new conditions, affecting allowances and overtime.

Ms Cotterill said: “A lot of people are losing money.”

Ms Mills said: “We are still talking to the unions and we will continue to talk to them, as we have been throughout this pay review process.

“We are saddened they have chosen to take this approach.

"This move is not unexpected and we still hope the unions will reconsider.”