NEWPORT'S home carers have overwhelmingly voted to strike after the city council tried to cut their pay and conditions.

The 250 home carers, who are among the council's lowest-paid employees, received termination notices from the council last month.

They claim that the new contracts Newport wanted them to sign would remove bonuses for evening, night and weekend work and cost them between £70 and £180 every month.

Now, 92 per cent of Unison home care members and 98 per cent of GMB home care members voted for industrial action.

Jane Nash, the Unison representative for Newport's home carers, said: "From a trade union point of view it is disappointing that these proposals were being forced through by a Labour administration against the lowest paid sector of the council's workforce."

Sandra Cronin has been a Newport home carer for 20 years and is a Unison representative.

She told the Argus: "I voted to strike because I feel that the council is not listening to us and I think it's the only way they will listen.

"They told us to go away and do our ballot and we have. I hope they pay attention because none of us want strike action but if it's necessary then we'll do it."

The carers' unions will meet with the council tomorrow to restart negotiations, and plan a members' meeting on July 28.