STAFF at Bromley Council could resort to strike action after a leading councillor refused to rule out job cuts.

The Conservative administration has pledged to make cuts in an attempt to reduce council tax increases leaving employee morale "at an all time low".

Opposition parties have criticised the Tories' attitude to staff and said cuts will affect public services.

Council leader Councillor Michael Tickner says the first posts to go will be those which have been vacant for some time but he cannot rule out the possibility of compulsory redundancies.

He said: "The former administration created more than 100 new jobs for beaurocrats and we want to bring staffing back to sensible levels.

"It's too early to say how many jobs will be cut but staffing is the biggest part of council expenditure."

Labour councillor Peter Fookes says the situation is "appalling" and he will be opposed to any compulsory redundancies.

Bromley Council UNISON representative Glen Kelly says he will be meeting staff over the coming weeks and industrial action is possible.

"There is definitely a high level of anxiety and anger among staff because the new administration promised to improve services, and there is great fear about job losses," he said.

"We will raise the question of industrial action with staff to defend jobs and services. "The Tories say it is all about reducing council tax, but 70 per cent of employees live in Bromley, and they have to pay it too."

November 20, 2001 15:05