COUNCIL workers are squaring-up for a million pound battle for 45 minutes.

Trade union representatives at Wigan Council are seeking a standard working week for all employees.

At the moment, manual workers put in a 37-hour week while administration staff are on 36-and-a quarter hours.

Union leaders are pressing for an across-the-board 36-and-a quarter hour week, but the authority say this would cost ratepayers £1m-a-year.

The unions have refused to talk until the council comes up with concessions, but the authority is snubbing the unions and consulting directly with staff.

Wigan's personnel director, Linda Marsh, said: "A single status agreement began on April 1, 1999, which included a standard working week of 37 hours for all employees.

"Sensible negotiation reduced the cost of the reduction in hours to £400,000 per year, but most of this cost fell to the social services department.

"It is essential the council equalises hours of white and blue collar workers.

"Currently in Wigan most white collar contracts are 36-and-a-quarter hours.

"The council cannot afford to fund a reduction in hours which will, in effect, increase the £400,000 annual cost by a further £1m.

"It is nonsense for the trade unions to seek an increase in pay for white collar staff to work 37 hours as this would be in direct conflict with equal value legislation with which the council has to comply."

Wendy Jackson, secretary of Unison at Wigan Council, said: "The unions agree it is only fair to have all employees with the same working week.

"However, their proposals mean some workers would effectively take a two per cent pay cut.

"This is not acceptable to our members and will be vigorously resisted by all the trade unions."