| Up to 850 staff at Oldham Council, in Greater Manchester, face losing their jobs as the authority tries to tackle a budget deficit of more than £17m. | Up to 850 staff at Oldham Council, in Greater Manchester, face losing their jobs as the authority tries to tackle a budget deficit of more than £17m. |
| Council leader Howard Sykes said it was "critical" that the authority found a way to save money, but added that the plans were still at an early stage. | Council leader Howard Sykes said it was "critical" that the authority found a way to save money, but added that the plans were still at an early stage. |
| The Liberal Democrat-controlled council said compulsory redundancies would be a "last resort". | The Liberal Democrat-controlled council said compulsory redundancies would be a "last resort". |
| The authority is Oldham's biggest employer with nearly 5,000 staff. | The authority is Oldham's biggest employer with nearly 5,000 staff. |
| Councillors met trade union representatives on Thursday to discuss the proposed cuts, which the authority said would not affect any schools. | Councillors met trade union representatives on Thursday to discuss the proposed cuts, which the authority said would not affect any schools. |
| Staff found out details of the cuts when they arrived at work on Friday. | Staff found out details of the cuts when they arrived at work on Friday. |
| Staffing costs | Staffing costs |
| Mr Sykes said: "The fact is that the council has to find £17.3m of savings to balance next year's budget. | Mr Sykes said: "The fact is that the council has to find £17.3m of savings to balance next year's budget. |
| "Staffing costs, like those of a lot of other councils up and down the country, are a big part of our overall budget, so it is inevitable that we should explore the potential for savings in this area. | "Staffing costs, like those of a lot of other councils up and down the country, are a big part of our overall budget, so it is inevitable that we should explore the potential for savings in this area. |
| My reaction is shock Phil Woolas MP "The proposed savings are critical in our efforts to provide the borough's residents with the value-for-money services they quite rightly expect." | My reaction is shock Phil Woolas MP "The proposed savings are critical in our efforts to provide the borough's residents with the value-for-money services they quite rightly expect." |
| Phil Woolas, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, is meeting council bosses to discuss the proposals. | Phil Woolas, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, is meeting council bosses to discuss the proposals. |
| "My reaction is shock," he said. | "My reaction is shock," he said. |
| "We had a very good settlement in the grants this year from the government, the best in the region, at 6%." | "We had a very good settlement in the grants this year from the government, the best in the region, at 6%." |
| Mr Woolas said that he was unclear whether the jobs cuts were part of an "options paper" rather than specific cuts. | Mr Woolas said that he was unclear whether the jobs cuts were part of an "options paper" rather than specific cuts. |
| Councillor Lynne Thompson, the Liberal Democrats' finance spokeswoman said compulsory redundancies would be kept to "a minimum". | Councillor Lynne Thompson, the Liberal Democrats' finance spokeswoman said compulsory redundancies would be kept to "a minimum". |
| "It is a last, last resort," she said. | "It is a last, last resort," she said. |
| "We'll be looking at voluntary options, we'll be looking at options which don't involve staff like rationalising use of buildings and if it comes to compulsory redundancies we will be supporting them." | "We'll be looking at voluntary options, we'll be looking at options which don't involve staff like rationalising use of buildings and if it comes to compulsory redundancies we will be supporting them." |
| The Liberal Democrats took control of the authority in May from Labour. | The Liberal Democrats took control of the authority in May from Labour. |
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