A PROFITEERING social care provider has shelved plans to slash staff wages after intervention by the workers’ union.

Viridian Housing won a contract to provide adult social care at four care homes for Ealing Council in west London.

The group’s operations director Matt Campion, who enjoyed a hefty salary rise of 13.8 per cent last year from £118,55 to £134,895, introduced plans to axe staff wages by between 5 and 12 per cent.

But it was revealed yesterday that Viridian has abandoned the pay cut plans after GMB union intervened on behalf of the mainly female staff who work in domestic, laundry and housekeeping.

The U-turn came after GMB pressure prompted the council to re-assess its private finance initiative contract (PFI) with Viridian.

GMB senior organiser Keith Williams said: “A good society is judged by what it provides to the most vulnerable, and adult social care is a vital public service, regardless of who the provider is.

“GMB welcomes the decision by Viridian and is holding negotiations with Ealing Council regarding the level of funding they receive though the PFI arrangement they have with the local authority to run the borough’s care homes.”

He said the staff were already low-paid, but were “passionate” about the care they provide.

The care home staff were not however prepared to accept attacks on their pay and conditions to help Viridian make more profits from its contract.

Mr Williams said the company’s contract with Ealing Council was “seriously underfunded.”