JOBS could be lost because of the 'fundamentally flawed' way Barnsley Council plans to provide services in new schools, a trade union report claims.

And a senior Labour councillor has backed their argument, saying the authority should not sell the staff off.

Unison says school cleaners, caretakers and dinner ladies face redundancy because of the way the Building Schools for the Future project is being handled. The union claims councillors have not been given all the facts by the education department. Branch secretary Ray Oldroyd said: "We are keen to protect our members' jobs but appreciate these new schools require a top-class service.

"Our view is, that is best delivered by a well trained, qualified and experienced workforce rather than subcontractors and agencies. We would rather see local employees, mainly recruited from Barnsley, who use local suppliers and whose wages are spent in local shops."

Unison has support within the council's ruling cabinet. Coun Mike Stokes, a former union man, said he does not like the PFI principle but would accept it to get new buildings. But he does not think workers should be included in the deal.

Linda Burgess, cabinet spokeswoman for education, said the union's position would be considered before an informed decision was made.

• Full story in this week's Chronicle.