Sandwell MBC is to forge ahead with its new single-status pay system without agreement from trade unions. The council faces a backlash from the 1,400 employees set to lose out on £1,400 a year – mainly male bonus earners. If the council agrees to the plans the winners under the new system would be 5,000 female employees in lower paid jobs who will get on average £820 more a year. The council is to put its plan out to consultation without support from unions at a cost of £4.1m in first year. Staff would have to sign new contracts which would bring about the salary changes and there are measures to cushion the impact of wage cuts by protecting pay for a limited time. Deputy leader, Cllr Pauline Hinton, said: ‘Despite our best efforts, we have not, to date, had a formal response from trade unions. We hope staff will recognise that we are being as fair as we can.' Unions Unison and Unite, which have more than 7,000 workers at Sandwell Council, said they would not rule out industrial action. Unison's Tony Rabaiotti said: ‘It is not an agreement – the council has imposed this on the workforce.'