A major union has attacked an apparent change to a long standing agreement over the amount of pay given after an industrial injury.

The "Unite" union claim that a human resources manager, acting on advice from a senior colleague, has advised that pay should be halved after 6 months.

Unite spokesman Eric Holmes says this was the result of someone putting, in his own words, "their own spin" on the accepted interpretation.

In a statement,Jon Callister from Employers' side of Whitley Council says he has been in discussions with Mr Holmes about the interpretation of the Whitley Council Memorandum of Agreement in respect of an employee of government and in an email correspondence with him on 15th of August, he had concluded by asking Mr Holmes to get in contact with him again if he felt his questions regarding the issue had not been resolved.

Mr Callister says he has yet to hear further from Mr Holmes and adds that it is disappointing that hehas been so quick to issue what he terms "premature and alarming statements" to the media over a matter which is still in the process of being clarified.

Mr Holmes says, as winter approaches, absolute clarity on this is vital....