A GROUP of Blaenau Gwent council employees yesterday presented the mayor with a 10,000-strong petition protesting the outsourcing of homecare.

Tempers ran high at Ebbw Vale’s Civic Centre on Thursday as almost 50 home care workers from across Blaenau Gwent marched to the civic centre and sat in the public gallery during a meeting of the council.

They had earlier presented Mayor Mostyn Lewis with a 10,000 strong petition protesting against the closure of the service.

As councillors entered the council chambers they were presented with a letter from the GMB trade union claiming figures were 'deeply flawed' and calling for the council to reverse the decision.

A copy of the letter seen by the Argus said: "Hawking out the care of the elderly to the lowest bidder is abhorrent in our eyes, and to do this at the expense of long serving, committed and dedicated staff... is disgraceful in the least."

However, workers were left disappointed when they were told they would not have a chance to speak at the meeting.

The workers accused the council of leaving them in 'limbo', unsure of whether they were to lose their jobs or not.

GMB trade union representative, Gareth Morgans, accused the council of 'digging themselves into a hole' and said they had voted to outsource staff without looking at figures or consulting staff and their trade unions.

In August around 140 home care staff were told they could lose their jobs as Blaenau Gwent council attempts to address a £2.5 million hole in its budget, part of a £10 million deficit for 2014.

Since then the council has been in talks with the employees and trade unions, but no resolution has yet been reached.

Currently, 25 per cent of home care staff are council employees, with the remaining 75 per cent outsourced by independent care providers.

Mr Morgans added: “Part-time female workers always seem to face the brunt of cuts."

Mr Morgans requested in the letter to address the council, and hopes they will arrange for him to speak at the next meeting.

Bet Watts, who has been a carer for 11 years, said: “I’ve lost all faith in the council. They are meant to represent the people and workers of Blaenau Gwent, and 10,000 of those people have just signed a petition asking them to not get rid of us, and they do nothing about it.”

A council spokesman said: “We recognise that we will have to outsource the service, but also that it will not be possible to do this in a single move if we are to ensure continuity of care for our service users.

“Therefore in order to achieve savings in the next financial year we are planning a phased approach, where 50 per cent of the service is outsourced.

The remaining savings required from this department will be found from restructuring which will impact in the main on non front-line services.

“Those staff remaining within the authority will focus on providing care in very complex cases. We will continue to explore the development of a workers’ cooperative, or a different model of care.”