TRADE UNIONISTS and politicians in north-west England united today to resist plans by a profiteering care service provider to attack the pay and conditions of its staff.

Catalyst Choices runs care homes and services in Warrington in Cheshire.

In 2015 the jobs of care workers employed by Warrington Borough Council were transferred to the company under Tory competition laws.

Public service union Unison has condemned the company’s plans after it announced it intends to cut wages and worsen working conditions.

In a letter to the company, Warrington North Labour MP Charlotte Nichols and 22 Warrington Labour councillors said: “Front line staff are struggling with understaffing and unmanageable workloads.”

Their letter also calls on Catalyst Choices to give its employees a voice at work through recognising trade unions.

It has been signed by 32 local politicians, faith leaders and business owners.

Ms Nichols said: “This dedicated group of care workers provide top-quality care for elderly and vulnerable people in Warrington. They are the hidden heroes of our community.

“If anything, these devoted and knowledgeable care workers deserve a substantial pay rise — the last thing they need is a substantial cut to their pay and conditions.

“I strongly urge Catalyst’s management to reconsider their plans. I believe that a fair solution could be collectively agreed if Catalyst recognised their employees’ trade union.

“This way, carers themselves could have a say in important decisions such as this one.”

A spokeswoman for Catalyst Choices said that they did not have any comment to make at the moment.