PAY offers aimed at halting threatened council strikes have been backed by York's three political party leaders.

The deal, negotiated with conciliation service ACAS, offers the lowest-paid council workers a 10.9 per cent rise over two years.

But City of York Council officers have warned it could result in increased council tax bills.

The new offer follows a national strike by local authority workers in July, and comes as public services union Unison threatens another.

The union is demanding a six per cent increase in wages.

York Unison branch spokesman Peter Household said: "The 10.9 per cent pay rise is for the really lowest paid and, for them, even 10.9 per cent is a pitiful amount.

"For the average workers I think they're offering 3.5 per cent this year and another 3.5 next year.

"The branch committee doesn't think it's a particularly good deal. We are balloting members, and those votes will be counted tomorrow. We have been recommending that they reject the offer."

David Atkinson, City of York Council's chief executive, said: "All three leaders of the council's political groups have met to discuss the latest proposals and, while they were mindful of the cost of funding the revised pay offer locally, they all agreed on balance they felt that the case for accepting should take precedence."

Updated: 14:54 Thursday, September 12, 2002