MORE than 600 Caerphilly council workers walked out today in protest against the huge pay rises given to 20 council officers including the Chief Executive.

Workers took part in the hour-long walk out when they protested between 12.30pm and 1.30pm outside the entrance of the council's headquarters in Tredomen and at other council sites around the borough. This was a response to the Council's decision to raise the Chief Executive, Anthony O'Sullivan's pay from £120,000 to £147,000 and raise other Executive Officers' pay by up to 20 percent.

Rob Thomas who has worked for Caerphilly Children's Services for eight years and pays his council tax in the borough, said: "The pay rise is an insult to the people of the borough. "It's an abuse of the people. There are cuts in social services. I think the money should be handed back for use in the public services.

"There are people in my department who are on short term contracts who don't know if they'll be employed by March next year."

Jane Jordan who has worked in the Caerphilly social services since 1994.

She said: "It's a disgrace that they are having this pay rise.

"We have had a three year pay freeze and some of their rises would be double some council worker's annual wage.

"This money should have been used for council services.

"I think they should pay the money back. I have to be fair and say that the council has been well run up until giving these pay rises." Branch Secretary for Caerphilly UNISON, Gary Enright said: “Today we have clearly demonstrated our anger about the Chief Executive’s mammoth pay rise and that we are not prepared to simply accept the situation. Our clear and united message to Caerphilly Council is: we demand fairness for all and we will accept nothing less than a rescinding of this unequal and divisive decision.

“We will be taking our protest next to the ruling Labour Group meeting which will take place here, tomorrow at 5pm, where we expect to be joined by members of the general public who have been equally appalled by the council’s recent actions.”

Leader of the opposition Plaid Cymru group Cllr Colin Mann said: "We intend to get a special meeting called so that all the councillors can have their say on the pay rise."

A Caerphilly Council spokesman said: "The decision was made by a cross-party committee made a decision on the matter on September 5, and in the interests of transparency, the minutes of the meeting were presented at the earliest opportunity to all members at full council on the October 9. "The minutes were accepted and no issues or concerns were raised by members at the time."

At 5pm tomorrow (December 18) there will be a meeting of Caerphilly's Labour councillors to discuss the pay rises.