Some of the biggest set of pay talks in the UK's history could soon be completed but a Sussex union secretary has played down talk of huge increases.

Changes to how NHS workers are paid may be finalised this year.

A vote could be taken in June by workers to see whether they support current payment proposals devised by NHS management and unions.

The proposals include a 37.5-hour working week to be gradually phased in, extra holidays and a new job evaluation scheme, allowing someone's basic pay to be determined by assessing the "weight" of their job.

Job weight would be judged on 16 factors, including: The knowledge and skills required to do the job; the responsibilities involved; the physical, mental or emotional effort required; and any extra demands imposed by the working environment.

Unison's West Sussex branch secretary Peter Atkinson said: "Measuring jobs in this way will capture most aspects currently recognised by paying leads and allowances.

"Where this is the case, these leads and allowances will be absorbed into higher levels of basic pay.

"The Pay Review Body and Pay Negotiating Council, who will judge job weight, may be able to extend these payments."

The pay proposals were reached through negotiations late last year. If NHS workers agree to them, the new structures could be in place throughout the health service by October 2004.

Mr Atkinson was concerned talk of huge pay rises to health workers was misleading and stressed any pay changes depended on the unions voting in favour of them.

He said the pay talks were linked to a pay rise of 10 per cent, to be introduced during a three-year period, which could "lead to the whole thing being rejected if the Government is not careful".

He said: "People have got the impression this could mean large pay rises.

"It's a significant pay rise for lower-paid staff in the NHS, there's no doubt about that.

"But it's not a significant rise right across the board. Some will do a lot better than others."