The pay review has left some staff in militant mood

Many women have been considering using "no win no fee" lawyers in a bid to secure higher levels of compensation.

Council officials and trade union leaders have both warned that any deals struck may have to be paid for through job cuts.

BBC Scotland's Frontline team has found that higher levels of compensation could result in even greater costs.

Councils have been reviewing salaries under the national single status pay agreement and some authorities have begun implementing changes.

'I'm entitled'

One woman in Glasgow, a rapid response home carer, was three grades higher than a refuse male collector but was paid �3,000 a year less.

The employee asked not to be named, but told Frontline: "I'm entitled to get that money because I grafted for that money.

"He gets paid a lot more than me and I'm dealing with human life while he is dealing with rubbish.

"All right he's got a dirty job but he doesn't actually physically empty the bins himself, it's all automated.

"I'd love to go in and have something automated looking after my clients."

There is no likelihood of central government stepping in with money. Douglas Paterson Aberdeen Council

Glasgow City Council has offered a deal to women workers totalling �40m, an average of about �9,000 per employee.

However the Frontline team has found that if workers instead turn to compensation lawyers, the total payout could soar to �200m.

Lawyer Mark Irvine, of the campaign group Action for Equality, said he had contacted hundreds of council employees across Scotland who plan to reject council offers.

He said: "At first they are pretty incredulous at how much less they are paid and, instead of getting mad about it, they start planning to get even.

"Employment tribunal claims are really the only way to fix the problem in the short term."

Lawyer warning

Aberdeen City Council has been considering a �14m compensation deal.

No win no fee lawyers believe they could tripe that figure, but the council said that could mean jobs going to foot the bill.

Council spokesman Douglas Paterson said: "There is no likelihood as far as we are told of central government stepping in with money.

"We are now dependent on modernisation of service delivery and really are working towards a smaller, higher skilled and more highly paid workforce."

Councillor Irene Graham, convener of Glasgow council's equality sub-committee, warned workers against choosing the employment tribunal route.

She said: "If workers chose to go with Mark Irvine, the only thing Mark Irvine will get out of that is money in his pocket.

"That will be at the expense of money that could go directly to the pocket of the workers in Glasgow."