MUTINOUS staff at Ebley Mill are preparing to launch scores of employment tribunal claims against Stroud District Council.

Public sector worker's union UNISON announced it will issue between 70 and 100 claims on behalf of its members over the next few months.

The row is the result of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions, which has already resulted in two one-day strikes and other forms of industrial action.

As part of an efficiency drive, staff have been presented with new contracts and told they face dismissal if they refuse to sign.

UNISON chiefs, who represent around half the council's 615 staff, say some employees face losing thousands of pounds under the new conditions.

In a recent questionnaire of workers, 125 out of 169 respondents said they felt intimidated by senior management.

And the union's solicitors are now in the process of preparing claims for members who feel they have no alternative but to sign.

Meanwhile, opposition councillors have demanded an emergency meeting today, Wednesday, in an effort to resolve the problem.

But the Conservative administration says senior officers should be left to deal with the problem and has criticised councillors who have talked to staff on picket lines.

Joanne Kaye-Smith, UNISON's regional manager, said she union regretted the inconvenience to taxpayers but felt workers had no choice under the circumstances.

"Despite opposition councillors repeatedly calling for this to stop, the ruling Conservative group have closed their eyes and ears to the plight of their staff and the reasonable demands of their council colleagues," she said.

Nigel Riglar, SDC's strategic director, said: "It is inappropriate for us to conduct negotiations with UNISON through the press.

"Our responsibility is to all of the council's staff not just those represented by UNISON.

"We continue to work with ACAS to resolve the dispute."

ends (340) AP