The changes are being brought in after a job evaluation

Trades unions are being asked to back the single status agreement, which will affect 6,300 employees.

Dundee City Council is expected to approve plans to reduce the number of salary grades from 120 to 13.

The authority said it was prepared to start redundancy and re-employment proceedings in September if unions did not agree to the proposed changes.

That would involve serving notice on all employees that their current contract would be terminated after a formal 90 day consultation period.

'Fairly paid'

They would then be offered a new contract under the new terms and conditions.

Dundee City Council said the single status agreement was needed to comply with equal pay legislation and would cost �2.8m.

It said the new pay structure had been decided after a "comprehensive job evaluation exercise".

We are still keen that the trade unions can agree to the recommendations made in the report Kevin Keenan Dundee City Council leader

Employees will be told in November how their wages will be affected, and they will have the right to appeal against their new salary grade.

The authority said staff who were in line for a pay cut would have their earnings conserved for three years.

Dundee council leader Kevin Keenan said: "The city council has made a commitment to making sure that employees are fairly paid for the work that they do.

"With over 6,300 employees affected, it has taken time to get a solution that harmonises pay and conditions for comparable posts.

"We believe that the report represents the best agreement that can be achieved and we are still keen that the trade unions can agree to the recommendations made in the report."

Rory Malone, from the Dundee branch of Unison told the BBC Scotland news website talks between the council and unions had been constructive.

He said: "We have definitely made grounds with the employer and we're hopeful of reaching an agreement before the end of September.

"That will depend on the results of an equality impact assessment, and if the trade unions do not agree, then we will be consulting our members about how to take this forward."