STAFF caring for frail elderly folk, many suffering from age-related illnesses, in care homes in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa may strike over a bitter row over new contracts.

Close on 90 workers employed by Heart of England Housing and Care Ltd (HoE) which runs Breme Residential Care Home in Sidemoor and Westmead in Droitwich say they are being "emotionally blackmailed" into accepting a new deal which will leave them worse off.

Stratford-on-Avon based HoE was launched in 1999 to acquire nine former social services-run residential care homes.

Now, staff inherited by HoE have until October 6 to accept new contacts or face the sack.

The new deal includes a five-year pay freeze, having to accept an inferior pension scheme, and cuts in holidays and sick pay.

Staff who spoke to the Advertiser/Messenger this week said: "We are being pushed to the absolute limit.

"We do not want a strike because we care deeply for the people we look after, but the company is emotionally blackmailing us."

Peter Fennell, regional officer for the union Unison, which is consulting members over the possibility of strike action and which is set for more high powered talks with bosses on Friday, said "We are approaching crunch time."

In a hard-hitting letter to staff the company claims it is hard up and is having to rely on an overdraft to get by.

It says the problem is compounded by the company taking longer to become financially viable than originally expected, being saddled with additional cash burdens and insufficient cash support from social services.

Attempts to secure extra cash has not been possible leaving the firm no alternative to taking "radical steps" to ensure its financial viability.

Currently staff costs 73 per cent of its income, to break even it will have to be cut to 60 percent.

"Failure to achieve this reduction will have serious consequences" it concludes.

In a statement HoE spokesman, Simon Brader, said the new proposals affect only 20 per cent of staff.

"The economic reality we face is that on average the true cost of providing residential care in accordance with all legislative requirements is £330 per person per week, however social services - who fund care for 75 percent of residents - only pay £300."