THOUSANDS of Bournemouth council staff will find out in January whether their pay will go up, down or stay the same.

A revised pay and grading structure has been drawn up to ensure the council complies with the equal pay act and does not discriminate against women.

Every single council worker has had their role and responsibilities assessed in detail and has been given a points total.

But they currently have no idea whether this will lead to them getting a wage increase, which will be backdated by three years, or a decrease, which will come into effect in 2011.

A report to this Wednesday’s cabinet meeting estimates the cost of the scheme at a staggering £59.3million over the next six years.

Funding of £34.4m is available to help pay for this and the council hopes to raise a further £16.6m by scrapping existing perks, including lease cars, healthcare schemes, overtime premiums and essential user car allowances.

Councils across the country have either completed or are currently completing similar exercises, with very mixed results.

When Dorset County Council reviewed staff pay, more workers received an increase than a cut.

But in Leeds and Brighton, refuse collectors have taken part in weeks of strike action to protest at plans to slash their pay by thousands of pounds.