PUBLIC sector union Unison said it will "stand by" council workers if they are forced into compulsory redundancies as a result of budget cuts.
With 1,000 jobs now at risk, the council has included unions in its consultation process until a d
ecision is made in December on how the council can save £45 million.
If better proposals are put forward, the need to shed as many jobs and service cuts may not happen, but the outlook is not good and Unison believes council workers should not shoulder the responsibility for the recession.
A spokesperson for Unison's West Lothian Branch said: "Major cuts like those in this report mean cuts in frontline services, increased charges and major damage to a local economy already weakened by recession.
"Neither the people of West Lothian nor the local council workers caused the recession and Unison sees no reason why they should be told that they have to pay for it.
"Unison strongly opposes any suggestion of compulsory redundancy and will continue to stand up for the West Lothian workforce who are trying to answer increasing demands with less and less resources.
"The proposals suggest cuts across all departments and will inevitably mean services will suffer."
The council's contingency plans have also been criticised by opposition councillors who say the SNP-led administration is failing in its education promises by cutting teacher numbers in West Lothian.
Graeme Morrice, leader of West Lothian Council's Labour group, has accused the administration of "hypocrisy" over proposals to increase class sizes.
To save money the council is proposing to trim about 50 teachers through efficiency measures. This would mean that county class sizes, which are currently well under national levels, would increase.
Innovative ideas to reduce teacher numbers include a "virtual" sixth form for schools where one teacher could do a subject using camera links to several schools.
"This is sheer hypocrisy," said Cllr Morrice. "Already there are more than 2,000 fewer teachers in Scotland after the SNP promised to raise teacher numbers in Scotland when it came to power.
"It is an absolute disgrace that SNP councillors are forcing through this major cuts package along with the support of their Tory and Action To Save St John's Hospital cronies.
"They have kept opposition Labour councillors in the dark and only sprung this on us at the last minute. We have not had a chance to go through this to offer alternatives while they have been working on it for six months.
"In one foul swoop The SNP are undoing all good work carried out by the previous Labour administration. The services the council provide, and the council workers who provide them, will suffer greatly as a result of the actions of the SNP and this can only be bad for our communities."
Neil Findlay, Labour councillor for Fauldhouse, also submitted a motion at the council executive meeting on Tuesday saying the West Lothian Council Labour group rejected recommendations on revising the council's management structure and restrictions on recruitment.
He said: "We seek full and comprehensive consultation with all stakeholders and want to see the chief executive bring back fully costed reports to future council meetings so that all elected members can be involved in the decision-making process, and not just the chosen few."
Council leader Peter Johnston said the proposals are not those of the SNP's and have been recommended by council officials as a way of bridging the funding gap.
"Councillor Morrice is clearly living in denial," added Cllr Johnston. "The fact is that thanks to the financial incompetence of the Labour UK government, West Lothian Council is facing a cut of £45m in our budget over the next three years.
"These facts are recognised by Cosla, Audit Scotland and every other responsible body.
"Labour's amendment today was to do nothing and, like the ostrich, stick its head in the sand and hope that the financial tsunami heading our way will pass us by.
"This is playground politics at its worst. Today, we accepted proposals to save £370,000 a year by reducing senior management. Labour opposed this.
"There are no SNP proposals to cut teachers or anything else. What we are doing, however, is beginning a process of community consultation and over the next six or seven months, during which we will be openly and honestly engaging with our community as we look to determine the best possible way to absorb the Labour cuts in council funding and continue to deliver first-class, effective and efficient public services.
"Labour opposed this consultation and voted to do nothing. Frankly Labour are a total shambles."
