Ninety staff at four care homes for the elderly in Torfaen are facing pay cuts of up to 50% in August. The organisation that took over the homes in 2002 says it can no longer maintain pay and conditions from when the local council employed them.

{mosimage}The union Unison has said dedicated staff are being treated badly.

When Hafod Care Association took over the homes from Torfaen Council, it promised to keep the status quo for existing staff for five years.

However, from 1 August, the association intends to cut workers’ hourly rates and stop paying extra for weekends and night work. It also plans other changes to terms and conditions for care assistants.

The homes affected are Ty Gwyn in Cwmbran, the Arthur Jenkins Care Home in Blaenavon, Cwmbran House in Pontnewydd and Plas y Garn in Pontypool.

One member of staff, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing their job, said: “After all the years that I have actually given loyal service, I really feel as if our lives and what’s going to become of our lives appear to be of no consequence at all to anybody.

“Overnight, by the stroke of a pen, they are going to take at least 30-50%, and expect us to actually live on that – it’s impossible.”

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