COUNCIL workers began a 24-hour strike yesterday after the authority revealed shocking plans to sack almost half of library staff and replace them with volunteers.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell joined hundreds of Unison members at Barnet Council, north London, in the action starting at 5am.

Childs Hill, East Barnet, Mill Hill and South Friern libraries are planned to be staffed by unpaid workers, but the council’s plans, announced on Friday, are expected to cost £6.5 million to implement.

Only 62 out of 114 full-time library employees will remain. The bill for redundancy ­payments alone is estimated to be £1.5m.

Workers oppose the council’s “dire future vision” of the library service, Barnet Unison libraries convener Hugh Jordan said.

The council is planning more automation and self-service machines.

Fears have also been raised about the privatisation of other positions such as social and adult care workers, school catering staff, street cleaning and refuse workers and education welfare officers.

The Tories’ austerity onslaught has seen Barnet Council’s funding slashed by 40 per cent.

Fewer than 300 people will remain directly employed by the council after it agrees to a number of cuts and outsourcing plans over the next four months, according to Unison.

Mr McDonnell said that the strike action showed the “remarkable fighting spirit” of unionised workers “in the face of a relentless attack from the hard right in control of Barnet Council.”

Picket lines formed outside Barnet House, Mill Hill depot and East Finchley libraries before a rally at St John’s church.

“Under Jeremy Corbyn, people can see that there is a real alternative to austerity,” said Mr McDonnell.

And Unison branch secretary John Burgess said that the austerity agenda peddled by the Tories was driving a “race to the bottom” in library workers’ terms and conditions.

Around 335 catering workers are expecting to hear that their jobs will be transferred to private contractor ISS — but with no guarantee that they will continue to be paid the London living wage of £9.15 an hour.