TOWN Hall workers across East Lancashire are to be balloted for industrial action in support of a six per cent pay rise.

Members of the three local government unions, UNISON, GMB and Transport and General Workers, will be asked to support the demand in the face of a 3pc final offer made by the employers.

UNISON National Secretary Malcolm Wing said local government was the poor relation of the public sector.

"A quarter of a million staff, doing vital jobs in their local communities, earn less than £5 an hour," he added.

T & G national organiser Jack Dromey said that while the average wage in the UK was £19,000, two thirds of his members earned less than £13,000.