COUNCIL staff who haven't agreed to work longer hours for no extra pay have been given three months notice.

Letters advising that contracts will be terminated unless new conditions are accepted have gone out from the borough personnel department along with offers of new contracts including new terms.

The department says current contracts will cease on May 31 with new ones starting the following day taking in a 36 hour working week from June 1, 36 hours from April 1 next year and 37 hours from April 1 2003.

Those who prefer to remain on a 36 hour working week can do so if they agree to a proportionate reduction in salary.

And if they do not sign the new contract then the authority's personnel director Linda Marsh says they will have to work 37 hours from June 1.

The employees' union UNISON was unable to comment before the Journal went to press.