Staff at the Newcastle City Council have initiated moves to take industrial action over the future of their jobs.

The United Services Union says workers are being kept in the dark about possible plans to contract out services to save money. The union claims the Council has flagged a move to get private help for garbage collection, public pool operation and cleaning services.

Staff took the recent listing of lifeguard positions as a strong indicator of future plans, Union spokesperson Noel Martin said. Many are gathering today at Newcastle’s Civic Park to call on the Council for answers.

“There's 19 outstanding issues that are affecting members that the council are either dodging or are not telling us about... in 'secret service' reports up in the round house at Newcastle Council,” Mr Martin said.

The Union has heard rumours of large scale cuts to council-provided services.

“We understand that there is a report that's going to have public pools gone, we understand that the council cleaners are gone, we understand the workshop's gone, we understand that potentially the garbage collection is gone, that parks and gardens at Newcastle Council are gone,” Mr Martin said.

In a statement this week the Newcastle Lord Mayor Jeff McCloy said everyone has been fully informed of changes, and that increasing the permanent workforce with seasonal staff is contrary to the Council's goal to reduce costs to ratepayers.

Mr McCloy says the community has supported the Council’s efforts to tighten its belt. This is a point the Union may agree on, Mr McCloy says: “We're not going to stand in the way of implementing efficiencies that will improve the services to the ratepayers of Newcastle.”