SUFFOLK: Thousands of county council workers have received letters warning their jobs could be at risk.

They work for the county’s children’s and young people’s services – and the arrival of the letters has provoked irritation among union bosses.

The letter, signed by director for children and young people Simon White says: “I am writing to advise you that as a result of the financial pressures facing the county council and our strategy for more effective delivery of children’s services, we are proposing to reduce the number of posts in children’s services with effect from 31 March 2011.

“I can confirm that you are directly involved in these changes connected to the launch of the new service and that we have confirmed with the trade unions that a formal consultation period of 90 days will commence on 17 November 2010.”

Ann Glover from UNISON explained the news may not be as bleak as fit seems.

“From our talks with the council, it seems as if they are looking to lose 190 posts out of a total number of more than 2,200. It should be possible to manage that kind of reduction without resorting to redundancy given the normal staff turnover.”

County councillor with responsibility for children and young people Graham Newman said the letters had been sent out because the authority had to give staff 90 days’ notice of consultation about possible redundancies.

He said the council did not know how many posts would go because they still had not had their final financial settlement for next year from the government