UNION members at Southampton City Council have overwhelmingly rejected proposed pay cuts of up 5.5 per cent.

In a postal ballot union members voted 1,552 to 307 to reject the cuts, agreed by Conservative councillors last week. Turnout was around 60 per cent.

The result of the joint ballot of Unison and Unite members was announced this afternoon after a meeting of union leaders.

Ruling Tories have agreed to dismiss staff and re-hire them on worse contracts to force through pay cuts of between 2 and 5.5 per cent.

They point out only a quarter of council workers voted to rejected them.

Today's vote gives union leaders a mandate to ballot for strike action if the council seeks to impose the cuts.

Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said: “We are calling on the Conservatives to accept the outcome of the ballot. Council workers have spoken.

“The turnout in the ballot is higher than in the local elections which put the Conservatives in control of the city.

“Imposing the pay cuts will cost the council tens of thousands of pounds and will lead to the most serious industrial action the city has ever seen.

“The Conservatives should pull back and enter into meaningful negotiations.”

Unite Convenor Mark Wood added: “This ballot result is a resounding rejection of the proposals. Unite's position is mirrored by all the other unions so far.

"It's a clear message to the council leaders to engage with the unions to find a fairer way forward."

The council says the cuts to pay and allowances, worth up £6.6m a year, are needed to help plug a £25m budget hole.

They say the controversial move will save a further 400 jobs losses over the next two years.

The council's budget will see 205 jobs out of the council's 6,627 workforce, excluding teachers, will be axed to save a further £5m.

Council leader Royston Smith said: “I am very disappointed by the outcome of this union vote. However, it is important to set this in context. 77 per cent of Southampton City Council staff did not vote to reject our proposals.

“Despite this setback, I will continue to do absolutely everything I can to protect the jobs of our staff and protect services for our residents.”

He insisted: “I was very much hoping that despite the headlines and the national debates, the unions would agree that this is the best way of protecting jobs and services.

“For that reason I am committed to pursuing these terms and condition changes and will meeting with senior managers on Monday to discuss the next steps.”