TRADE unionists urged caution yesterday over Salford City Council plans to launch a worker-owned social enterprise company to take over services for vulnerable people.

The Labour-run council in Greater Manchester is proposing to transfer 400 directly employed staff into the new company Aspire to care for 800 vulnerable people.

Aspire will take over a £10.5 million contract providing specialist day services and centres, respite and short breaks, helping people with learning disabilities to remain independent and foster care for adults.

But public-service union Unison warned that the plan was fraught with dangers, including undercutting by privateers when the contract comes up for renewal.

Salford City Unison branch secretary Steven North said the union had “serious concerns about the potential impact of this change.

“All too often the setting up of a social enterprise is the first step towards outright privatisation.

“In three years’ time Aspire could find itself the losing party in a bidding war with a private-sector care organisation that can deliver this service for less money only because it pays bargain basement wages and subjects its clients to 15 minute-only visits.”

Unison has drawn up an Ethical Care Charter which it wants councils to adopt, guaranteeing the living wage, proper training and “human decency” for clients.

“This would deter private companies from trying to move in and undercut Aspire. If the council wants this new social enterprise to have a chance to succeed it should adopt the charter,” he said.