News

Home care staff working for disability charity Leonard Cheshire in north-east England are fighting changes to their contracts that would reduce their pay.

They say the losses could amount to £200 a month from a £650 wage.

Under the changes they would lose pay for time travelling between clients, have their holiday entitlement reduced and their mileage allowance cut.

A reduction in the mileage rate has already been imposed, but other changes have now been deferred.

A promise of a 1.5 per cent increase in the hourly rate for the current year has also been deferred until more talks have taken place with individual staff members and public sector union Unison.

A charity spokeswoman said: "We are bringing the conditions into line with our other home care staff."