THE mood was downbeat among staff arriving to work at West Wiltshire District Council offices in Trowbridge this morning.
Union representatives are meeting Wiltshire County Council later today to discuss the announcement and gauge possible job losses.
The county council has predicted at least 200 jobs going from around the county.
One worker from the district council's planning policy team said: "I'm crushed. We haven't been told what will happen to our jobs but my over-riding impression is that the county council don't know themselves.
"I don't know what the future holds.
"I have been working with the county council on a number of projects, certainly as individuals they're good people but as an organisation I don't think they are capable of government at this level."
Another said: "I think time will show that it is the wrong decision."
Others said the decision came as a shock to them.
"Yesterday it was a mood of disbelief. I just hope it won't get like the Titanic and people don't jump ship too early", said one.
Gavin Brookes, regional officer for UNISON, said: "Our key concern is the threat to jobs that this move might represent.
"We are completely opposed to any compulsory redundancies and will be working to protect jobs and services throughout this transition."
He said he would try and identify areas where services don't marry up between the councils and if the county council planned to outsource any work.
"It's an uncertain time for most of the staff in Wiltshire," he said.
