Axe on jobs is certain claim

Job losses at Staffordshire County Council are said to be inevitable if the county's cabinet backs workers and throws out plans to introduce new pay scales.

Staff have been protesting since the new pay scales, which would see some staff lose thousands, were announced last month.

In an exclusive interview with the Express & Star, an insider from the council, who is not prepared to be identified, confirmed that the cabinet will throw out the proposals in January, due protests from the staff.

However, they warned that the council cannot afford to pay staff more, so jobs will have to go.

He said: "The council cannot increase council tax to get the money - it is close to the capping level anyway.

"However, it cannot agree to adopt the pay structure put forward last month when there is such widespread opposition to it."

Last week 5,000 people took to the streets to protest about cuts to their salaries.

The matter is to be discussed by the cabinet on January 17 when it is be-lieved staff will be told of the job cuts. The council is refusing to confirm what the in-sider says is an inevitability.