Music teachers could lose jobs in budget cuts
Fifty three music teachers could be made redundant by Herefordshire Council as it tries to balance its books.
The teachers would be offered the chance to become self employed and join a council-run register.
Chris Levandowski, from the NASWUT union said: "Most of the staff I have spoken to are most unhappy about that situation, but they have no choice."
The council said it needed to change the way music was taught in a climate of reducing budgets.
The authority said the service, which provides music tuition to more than 3,000 children across the county, was failing to cover costs.
Under the new scheme the self employed music teachers would work directly with schools and invoice parents for music lessons.
The union said that although the teachers would receive a redundancy payment they would then be responsible for their pension, national insurance and travel expenses.
The proposals are being considered by the cabinet member for corporate and education, and the council said a decision would be made within a week.