FURIOUS workers are set to walk out early next year in a row over jobs losses amid huge budget cutbacks at Southampton City Council.

About 400 Unison members met at the Civic Centre yesterday to discuss the proposals, first revealed by the Daily Echo last month.

Council leaders are planning to axe 135 jobs and make savings of about £7m to ward off a budget crisis.

Unison bosses slammed the measure and criticised proposals to scrap car allowances, increase parking charges for hundreds of workers and bring in private partners to help run leisure centres.

Unison members will be balloted on industrial action in January, with a strike pencilled in on February 19.

A motion carried at the meeting called for the council to halt all measures implementing staff reductions until the budget has been set by the full council on February 19.

Branch members also plan to stop using their vehicles on council business on April 1, if car allowances are scrapped.

Mike Tucker, Southampton branch leader of Unison, said: "It was a very good meeting and lots of members spoke about their anger at the plans.

"A ballot on industrial action will take place in the first week of January.

"We are also calling for Unison nationally to withdraw funding and support for the Labour Party."

Residents have already been warned they face council tax bill rises of at least 9.9 per cent from April.

Councillor Peter Marsh-Jenks, Cabinet member responsible for finance, said: "No one likes cutting services, nor making staff redundant, nor increasing tax.

"There will be consultation and a scrutiny process before the full council takes final decisions next February."