UNISON members in Bolton could go on strike over a planned £10.6 million of council cuts.

Members will discuss the options they have at meetings this week.

The union argues the cuts will see job losses as well as changes to terms and conditions for key staff.

Natalie Mills, spokesman for Unison, said: "There are a number of options and strike action cannot be ruled out at this point.

"We don't know yet what the members will want to do but we will gauge the feeling at the AGM next week.

"They already feel that the goodwill there has been is fast disappearing. They do not feel valued by their employer when they are told they are worth less money than they used to be."

Up to £400 employees have had to take a pay cut because of changes to their working terms and conditions. The changes include reducing the pay for working unsocial hours.

She added: "Members may decide to take industrial action by working exactly to their contract and the council will see a difference because a lot of people do more than the call of duty.

"In the fourth largest economy in the world, it's ridiculous that our members are being asked to pay for the council's financial problems, there is no doubt that these cuts will have a direct impact on frontline services."

Around £4.6 million is being slashed from the adult services and culture and community cohesion budgets, accounting for 130 lost posts.

The replacement of the intermediary care section of the Thicketford House nursing home in Thicketford Road with an Active Ageing Centre and the closure of the Manor Court care home in Harwood will save £820,000 with the loss of 50 jobs.

In addition to the planned cuts, the member meetings will also discuss other issues including the future of the employee pension scheme, the annual pay claim and the possibility that Bolton Council may fail to implement a nationally agreed pay and grading review.

The meetings are being held at 12.30pm tomorrow and 5.30pm on Thursday at Bolton Town Hall.