STRIKING Doncaster care workers launched a nationwide appeal fund yesterday as they mount their longest walkout yet against wage-slashing privateers.

More than 150 former NHS staff walked out for another three weeks on Monday after overwhelmingly voting to continue their struggle.

Workers who lost £6,000 when their wages were slashed in half by health privateer Care UK have already staged 50 strike days.

They will have been out for over 90 days when their latest walkout ends — making their dispute the longest running in NHS history.

And their union Unison is appealing for funds to help their members maintain their heroic strike.

Unison regional manager Pam Johnson said: “It is clear that the employer intends to deskill and dumb down the skill base enjoyed by the current staff and replace them with minimum-wage carers, thereby reducing the quality of the service provided.

“Strikers continue to travel the country making their case and raising the issue at all levels. But the strikers need financial support and solidarity to keep up the fight.”

The workers were transferred from the NHS to Care UK when the company undercut a bid from the National Health Service for a council care contract tanks to Tory competition laws.

Care UK won the contract knowing that the level of its bid would mean axing the wages of NHS workers who were transferred to the company.

The Star revealed in July how carer Mags Dalton was made homeless by the wage cut.

She has since been forced to move back home to her parents — more than 100 miles in Newcastle.

Now Unison shop steward Roger Hutt is fearing for his home.

“I lost between 35 per cent and 45 per cent of my wages,” he told the Star. “I’m down £500 a month — £6,000 a year — and that’s my mortgage.”

Donations and messages of support can be sent to the Care UK Strikers to Unison, Jenkinson House, White Rose Way, Doncaster DN4 5GJ.