UNION officials held a protest against proposed pay cuts to frontline workers outside the head office of a housing association.

Unite the Union handed leaflets out to employees walking into Sanctuary Group's head office, in Chamber Court, Worcester.

The protest was against proposals to slash the wages of 340 employees, some of which could lose a third of their salary.

Unite claim the staff facing cuts assist elderly and vulnerable people, as part of the Sanctuary Supported Living division.

Union officials said they were expecting more protesters to join them as they moved into the city centre in the afternoon.

Arti Dillon, branch organiser for Unite, said: “Some workers wanted to come today but were worried about feeling isolated and worried about their jobs if they speak out too much.

“This is the head office and they organise staff conferences and letters of consultation come out of this place.

“They will know by the end of this that we are taking this seriously.”

The protesters also questioned the chief executive's six-figure salary in light of the proposed pay cuts.

Kate Reynolds, the head of communications for Sanctuary Group, said no one in Worcester would be affected by the cuts.

Nicole Seymour, director of corporate services at Sanctuary Group, said: “As a result, of the 1,502 staff who are affected, 1,018 of them will receive an increase in their salary.

"144 will see no change in their salary, while three people will see a reduction of around £8,000.

"340 staff will receive a reduction in their salary, of which the majority will see a decrease of less than 10%.

“Even though only a small number of colleagues are adversely affected, we recognise how difficult this is for them, and as such, we have committed to protecting their salaries until 1 May 2017.

"The salaries for Executive Directors are set by Sanctuary Group’s independent Remuneration Committee.”

Ms Dillon claims the pay increases account for the rise in the minimum wage.