More than 2,000 social services workers in Devon are threatening to strike if council plans to privatise their department go ahead.
Public sector union Unison will be discussing possible strike action over fears that 2,300 staff will lose their jobs at Devon County Council.
The union claims it has seen a management plan which will lead to the jobs going over a number of years.
The council said it was consulting on selling off parts of the department, but disputed the redundancy figures.
Devon County Council, which is facing a £15m funding shortfall, has already announced that 40 senior managers are to lose their jobs.
Council leader Brian Greenslade admitted there may be fewer people working directly for the council.
“What we are talking about is doing more of our services by liaising with the private sector – we are not talking about 2,300 job losses,” he said.
