Care home staff in strike ballot

Rehabilitation and dementia residential care will still be provided by the council

Care workers will be balloted over a one day strike in protest at a Hampshire council's plans to close two elderly residential care homes.

Southampton City Council has agreed to shut the Birch Lawn and Whitehaven Lodge homes and move 62 residents into private accommodation.

Members of UNISON and Unite, which represents 90% of the 74 staff at the two homes, will be balloted this week.

The council has said it could provide cheaper care in the independent sector.

The authority estimates it will save £500,000, and another £400,000 on the repairs needed to the homes in the Sholing and Millbrook areas.

The private sector will hold [the council] to ransom in the future Terry Hinton, Unite

Staff have held previous protests against the decision.

If the ballot is approved, the strike will take place on 18 February, the day of the council's annual budget-setting.

Mike Tucker, UNISON branch secretary, said: "Conservative councillors have so far ignored calls by local MPs, residents, their relatives and the 5,000 people who signed our petition to keep the two homes open."

Terry Hinton, of Unite, added: "Care staff will face redundancies.

"These are long standing caring staff, highly trained and have been caring for some of these residents for years. The emotions are very high.

"I do feel that the loss of in house residential care will backfire on [the council]. The private sector will hold [the council] to ransom in the future."

Southampton will retain four council-run elderly care homes, three for dementia care and one for rehabilitation care.

However, government minister and Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has said he opposes the plans.