East Surrey care workers protest over planned changes to contracts

FURIOUS care workers took to the picket line in protest at “horrendous” changes to their contracts.

Staff working for Prospect Housing and Support Services are being forced to take on new contracts with lower wages and fewer holidays – amounting to a loss of up to £16,000 per year for some individuals.

Most of the staff are former NHS workers whose contracts have been transferred over the last two years to the company, which provides workers to care homes as well as at-home support for vulnerable adults across East Surrey.

But workers have just been told they must sign new contracts by April or face losing their jobs.

Around 30 protesters, supported by GMB, the union for care staff, protested outside Prospect’s Horley offices in Massetts Road on Friday calling for new contract talks and the resignation of chief executive Deborah Tosler.

GMB organising officer Sheila Carlson said: “You are talking about real hardship.

“What she’s [Ms Tosler] done is horrendous, she had a consultation, we objected and she’s imposed it.

“We asked if she would be willing to have her wages cut and she said no.”

Protesters claim the company’s managers pressed on with drastic cuts to employees’ pay packets without reviewing the company’s efficiency.

The revised contracts mean some workers will lose around a fifth of their salary, along with fewer holidays and a cut in paid sick leave days.

“I am appalled at what the chief executive has done,” said Patricia Maloney, GMB branch secretary who will lose £8,500 from her salary.

“It is appalling to do this to hard working care staff. Some of us have worked for 20 years.”

Mrs Carlson says GMB and Surrey County Council have agreed to meet with Prospect to discuss the matter but Ms Tosler has refused to meet.

The protesters accused Ms Tosler of putting the vulnerable adults at risk by threatening workers’ jobs and called her “unfit” for her position.

“Staff have lost faith, trust and confidence in her ability to run the company,” Mrs Carlson said.

The current economic climate, disparity in staff wages and government pressure to reduce costs are to blame for the wage changes, according to PROSPECT Housing and Support Services.

The charitable organisation has not given staff a pay increase in three years as it seeks to battle ‘diminishing funding’.

But the company’s human resources and learning and development manager Moira Bennett-Jevons said not all staff will feel the bite.

“Prospect has been placed in a position where it has had to consult with 169 of its staff regarding a reduction of salary and, or, other terms and conditions,” she added.

“As a result, 30 per cent will see a reduction in salary, 41 per cent will not see a change in their salary, and 27 per cent of staff will see an improvement in their basic salary.

“The current economic climate is affecting most businesses nationwide and with health and social care providers being no exception. Prospect is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and has proudly balanced diminishing funding with providing quality services.

“It can’t do this without relying on its dedicated and professional staff members who provide the front-line support.

“Whilst auditors have reviewed other costs across the organisation in an attempt to make savings, over 80 per cent of Prospect’s costs are staffing costs.

“We are disappointed that the GMB should call this demonstration in circumstances where when we remain in consultation with the affected staff.”