A MEETING of council employees whose jobs are under threat have vowed to “fight tooth and nail” to keep their roles.

Around 100 people, predominantly women, many still in their care uniforms, attended the meeting last night, which was held at Nantyglo Rugby Club.

The meeting was called by Gareth Morgan, the GMB union regional officer, to discuss possible job losses which could hit in the next couple of months.

Up to 140 home care staff could lose their jobs as Blaenau Gwent council attempts to address a £2.5 million hole in its budget, part of a £10 million deficit for 2014.

Mr Morgan said: “We were surprised by the turnout, but it shows how concerned people are that there are so many here tonight.”

Currently, 25 per cent of home care staff are council employees, with the remainging 75 per cent outsourced by independent care providers At the meeting, Mr Morgan talked about “Thatcher tactics” comparing the running of domicillary care at Blaenau Gwent to Conservative PM Margaret Thatcher’s ruin of the mines before their closure.

Mr Morgan said: “If this means legal action, we will take legal action. If we have to fight on the streets, we’ll fight on the streets.

“They do not even know how they intend to do this.

They’ve been told to do it, but they don’t know how. It’s nonsense.”

“Part-time female workers always seem to be the first ones hit by the council.

“We fought for years for equal pay and now we have the same fight on our hands.

“We will fight them every step of the way. We will fight tooth and nail.”