STAFF at the borough’s biggest housing association have accused their bosses of “looking after themselves” in a pay-and-review row.

Six Town Housing (STH) workers used to receive pay rises under collective bargaining agreements.

But that changed in early 2011 due to Government cuts, which forced STH to freeze pay for three years for its workforce of 200 people.

On Government orders, bosses at STH, who manage Bury Council’s housing stock, also launched a pay-and-grading review.

Last Thursday workers discovered if they were to get a pay rise, a pay cut or neither.

Those with pay rises will get backdated pay, while those suffering cuts will not have to pay back cash.

Rank-and-file staff contacted the Bury Times and Radcliffe Times to express their disgust at the process. One worker, who asked not to be named amid fears of disciplinary action, said: “It’s been going on for years and it has got people feeling terrible. Some people are looking at losing £7,000 a year and having to move out of their homes.

“But what annoys us the most is that the bosses found a fortnight ago how they would be affected, yet we minions had to suffer.”

Another STH employee said: “We all see that all publicly-funded offices have had to go through this, but how it has happened is terrible.

“We should have found out a lot earlier and it’s poor form that the managers are finding out before us. They are looking after themselves.”

A STH spokesman would not comment on the allegation that bosses found out about their own pay changes before other staff.

However, he added: “We are obliged to have a pay-and-grading structure that ensures everyone who works for us receives equal pay for work of equal value.

“The process undertaken has not resulted in any changes to our organisational structure, no one’s job is at risk and it has been carried out in full consultation with our trade unions. We do not anticipate that services to our customers will be impacted in any way. Full details on the new pay-and-grading structure have now been shared with staff and formal consultation has commenced.”