An internal survey by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), conducted earlier this year and revealed to CYP Now this week, found 93 per cent of LSC staff would rather not work for councils.
But 950 LSC staff will have to move to local authorities as part of the 16 to 19 transfer. Staff are being interviewed and will be told where they will be redeployed within the next two months.
Bob Rollings, industrial officer for PCS, who is leading on the transfer for the union, said employees would much rather move to the Young People's Learning Agency or the Skills Funding Agency, the two bodies that will partially replace the LSC.
He said: "Staff members do not want to go. Many would rather take redundancy, but they will not be given that choice. They don't want to go from one organisation to 150 largely autonomous and politically independent councils."
The union, government and local authorities are working together to secure a smooth transfer for workers, but Rollings said staff are still not enthused about the move.
He said: "It seems unlikely that we'll get to the point where people volunteer to move to councils. The government is clear that there will be a transfer, but they're not giving any thought to what happens if we say no."
He added that if employ-ees are still unhappy about the transfer after negotiations, PCS will consider industrial action.
John Freeman, director of the React programme, which is supporting local authorities through the 14 to 19 reforms, said councils are working hard to resolve the issue. "Local authorities will welcome LSC staff. We need their skills and expertise so we have to make sure they feel valued," he said.
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said that the government is taking PCS' concerns seriously. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill will be amended to protect workers' rights, he said.
