MORE than 100 Bury council workers have issued a writ against the authority claiming they are owed £50,000 in underpaid car allowance and mileage.
The High Court writ claims the council has breached the terms of an agreement with staff classed as "essential car users" to pay them allowances according to the capacity of their cars.
The 106 claimants, backed by public sector workers' union Unison, argue that they have been underpaid since July, 1992 when the council started paying allowances only for the two lowest engine capacity bands, regardless of the actual engine size.
London-based solicitors Thompson's issued the writ demanding back payments, including inflation, for six years before the claim was made.
Unison have been involved in the wrangle since 1992. They successfully took Wigan Council to court in December 1997 in a test case about allowances.
The writ is officially in the name of Andrew Crawford, of Croft Lane, Hollins, Bury and 105 others.
A spokesman for Bury Council said: "This is a long-standing matter and we dispute the issues."
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