ALL 9,000 Somerset County Council staff have heard they could – in a worst case scenario - be sacked and re-employed on new contracts.

The announcement is part of a staff pay and conditions review revealed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

Councillors, who say debt-laden County Hall will get a smaller Government handout next year, recommended: *no automatic annual pay rises for staff; *around 85 senior managers taking a temporary pay drop; *smaller redundancy payoffs; *extra payments to staff reviewed individually.

Schools will not be affected by the measures.

A report to the meeting said staff could be asked to “volunteer up” their contracts, with those not agreeing “dismissed and then re-engaged on the new terms”.

Referring to the recommendations, Cllr Harvey Siggs, Cabinet member for human resources, said: “This won’t be popular with many staff and the final details may change as we go through the consultation process.

“We’re always ready to consider new ideas to streamline our operations and it’s good to hear Unison and their members committed to putting forward other cost-saving suggestions.

“However, our objective remains to make significant reductions in the size of the council’s budget.

“The changes proposed will allow us to continue the important work undertaken by the council and to save many jobs.”

A cash-saving recruitment freeze has already led to 451 unfilled vacancies.

Earlier, Unison representatives warned pay cuts would adversely affect lower paid employees, particularly women.

Tony Sargent demanded “meaningful consultation”, adding: “The council is run on the goodwill, commitment and dedication of staff.

“There’s a point at which there’s a danger you could lose that.”