UNIONS have come together to protest over fears that 600 jobs could be lost at the council.

Unite, Unison, the NUT, Waltham Forest Trades Council and the Anti-Cuts Union waved placards on the steps of Walthamstow Town Hall last night, to voice their anger.

The council’s proposed cuts form part of a drive to save money, as the authority faces a shortfall of £19.4 million in Government funding, over the next financial year.

Dave Knight, Unison branch secretary for Waltham Forest, said the proposed cuts by the council were too steep and would have a major effect on at least 600 public service workers, whose jobs are at risk.

Jobs under threat include include cleaning staff at the council, porters for council buildings, Youth Offending Service staff, Education Welfare Officers, and careers advisors for young people.

"There are cuts right across the council," Mr Knight added.

"When we lose our education welfare officers it means our youth will not get the services they need."

He added he was worried the council seemed to be protecting its higher paid staff more, and it was front-line and lower paid staff who were facing the axe.

He said he understood that the council was in a difficult position because the Government had cut so much of its funding.

"We want them to make a stand and refuse to accept the budget that is damaging our community," he added.

"We would also like them to look at other ways of making savings with regards to assessing the pay of consultants and those in higher level management."

The council is due to vote on further cut proposals in the new year.

Mr Knight said they were lobbying councillors and had sent them letters.

"We hope this all will make them take notice of what we are saying," he added.

Cllr Afzal Akram, cabinet member for corporate resources, business and employment, previously told the Guardian: “We are doing everything we possibly can to mitigate the impact on our staff whilst trying to protect the services that matter most to our residents.

“None of this is easy and we know full well that the uncertainty and level of change is deeply unpleasant for every single person working in the public sector.

“We have made no bones about the fact that we think these cuts are too deep and have been imposed far too quickly.

"But the bottom line is that central government cuts are forcing us to save more than £65 million over the next four years and it would be naïve to think that this money can be saved without an impact on staff numbers, wages or hours.”