SOME of the potential victims of the pay cuts have broken their silence to graphically underline the financial hardship they face in the wake of the shock announcement.

They are among 1,200 angry workers who will be left to count the cost of salary reductions of up to £7,500. Many are still trying to come to terms with the news and the serious financial implications of any salary reduction.

Ewa Entwistle, who works for revenue and benefits, told the Bury Times: “I am losing more than £6,000 and across revenue and benefits 94 per cent of workers are losing an average of £4,000.

“In actual fact, the benefits section is funded by central government and central government gave more than £1.4 million to pay for our benefits service. But our department is one of the worst affected.”

Barbara Hicks, registration officer for housing, said: “We are losing £3,000 of our salary and it’s coming at a time when gas bills are shooting up. It’s coming down to the questions: will I be able to pay the mortgage and will I have enough money for food?

“It was done in such a callous way because we received letters on a Saturday morning. It’s caused ill feeling and total distress. One day you’re worth £18,000, the next you’re worth £15,000.”

Lesley Heyworth and Wendy Keown, administration assistant for election and charges, faces a similar reduction. They said: “We’re going to lose £3,000 a year in 2010 and we’re both single working mothers.”

And they warned: “If we lose this money, we’ll have to sell our houses — we just can’t afford to cut corners.”

Lesley added: “I’d be better off on benefits because I’ve got two children, but I don’t want to be on benefits, I want to work to look after my children."

Also facing the prospect of a significant cut in pay are community response officers, Mike Frain and Phil Heys.

Mr Heys (28), who has worked in the post for the last three years, said: “I just don’t know how I am going to cope with losing that amount of money each year. To say I’m a bit disappointed and angry is an understatement.”

Colleague Mike Frain (44), said: “To have my wage cut by £2,500 is a massive blow. I can’t believe that the council could do such a thing. Everyone of us is facing the effects of the credit crunch and prices are rising. I’m talking about losing £50 a week.

“When we had the evaluation some time ago, I thought to myself it wasn’t about equalising pay, but all about cost-cutting. I think I’ve been proved right. I’ve worked as a response officer for 14 years. I just can’t believe what has happened.”

Meanwhile, local authority nightcare assistant Marie Jones is among the 42 per cent of the 4,000 workers who will benefit from a pay rise. But she is concerned that her wage won’t increase as much as she feels it should.

She said: “We don’t feel that we’ve been graded enough. We’ve been graded the same as day staff but we have responsibility for security because we don’t have a manager with us. I’m hoping that this will be resolved and that the council will seriously consider the night care assistants.”