NEW employment terms and conditions in Cheshire schools have been slammed by a Northwich man who says loyal staff have had a gun put to their heads.

Following a national agreement on local government pay and conditions of service, Cheshire County Council has until next March to implement Single Status - the harmonisation of pay and conditions across a local authority for comparable posts.

Changes proposed include a new pay and grading structure, ending the special needs allowance for teaching assistants and ending retainer pay.

Employees have until June 20 to decide whether to accept the terms and conditions, accept the changes and appeal, or reject the changes.

But one man, whose wife has worked as a midday assistant in a Northwich high school for the past 22 years, is angry about the strategy and claims staff who don't agree to sign up for the new conditions could be forced to reapply for their jobs.

He said: "In the letter my wife received it says: 'If you reject the changes, the council will have to consider the position and whether or not to terminate your employment and offer you re-engagement on the new conditions, and if so, consider the terms which would apply to that position'.

"The council is making out they've got a free vote, but what are the options? It's asking them to make a choice with a gun put to their head."

A spokeswoman for Cheshire County Council said: "Single Status arises from a national agreement between local government employers and trade unions. It requires local authorities to harmonise the pay and conditions of all local government service employees."