Council workers across Oxfordshire could "stop the county" with a sustained period of industrial action after union members today voted to strike.

Unison's national conference was told that members working for local authorities had rejected a 2.45 per cent pay rise and voted in favour of stopping work later in the summer.

In Oxfordshire, where County Hall's most senior staff were awarded 10 per cent rises last year, Unison branch secretary Mark Fysh said workers were struggling to survive on salaries of £15,000-a-year.

Chief executive Joanna Simons is paid £178,068, while Janet Tomlinson, John Parry, Richard Dudding and John Jackson - respectively the department heads of children, young people and families, fire service, environment and economy and social and community services - each get £125,128.

Mr Fysh, who described the discrepancy in pay as "always a bone of contention", said: "Members are very, very angry with the Labour Party and the situation we find ourselves in.

"The current offer we have received would basically amount to a pay cut, because of the price of food and fuel going through the roof.

"Of all the people we represent, about 60 per cent earn about £15,000 or £16,000-a-year and we simply cannot cope with it.

"We're also fed up being regarded like the armed forces - we're heroes when it's felt we are needed, but when we are not, we are seen as no better than the **** on you shoe. It has got to stop.

"The people I work with look after your disabled brother or your elderly mother - we provide essential services and we do jobs other people won't do.

"All we are asking for is enough money to be able to live. I know of people who are having to leave their jobs, because they simply cannot afford to carry on."

Mr Fysh said council workers were seeking a pay rise of six per cent - or 50p an hour.

No dates have yet been set for the strikes, but Unison, which represents most council staff in Oxfordshire, was todayJune 24 set to announce more details of its plans for industrial action.

And with members ranging from dinner ladies to classroom assistants, architects to refuse collectors, the effect could be widespread.

Mr Fysh said: "We could stop the county, but we take this action very reluctantly.

"I think we could be looking at sustained action, but we always remain prepared to talk and come to a reasonable agreement."

Mr Fysh said his members' demands would not hurt the economy and urged the Government not to use council workers as "whipping boys" in efforts to rein in inflation.

Brian Baldwin, chairman of the local government employers' negotiators, said: "Any strike action Unison calls could have serious implications for some of the most vulnerable people in society and would not change the fact that our last offer was our final offer.

"If the pay settlement is set any higher, then councils will be forced into making unpalatable choices between cutting front-line services and laying off staff."