Nuneaton council workers travel expense cut 'unfair'
Cuts made to travel expenses for council workers in part of Warwickshire are "unfair", unions have said.
Staff at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council can claim 45p-per-mile after recent changes to expenses rules, but councillors can claim 65p.
The Unite union said the policy "discriminated against workers" and both rates should be equal.
The Labour-run council said it intended to reduce both rates to 45p, by the end of the year.
Adrian Ross, from Unite, said: "Our members used to get the higher rate, it's unfair because we have seen a significant cut, but councillors haven't.
"All the employees that use their cars have got to take out business insurance and with rising petrol prices the cost of running a car for work is going up and up."
Council leader Dennis Harvey said: "We reduced the staff mileage to reduce costs and save jobs.
"We've asked the independent panel on councillors' allowances to reduce the councillors' rate as well, the intention is for them all to go down."
He said the council could not enforce the new rate until the panel came back with its findings later this year.
HM Revenue and Customs said its recommended transport allowance rate was 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles of business travel, in any tax year.