A TRANSFER deal that puts Herefordshire Council's care homes in private hands has hit trouble.

The council's Labour group this week withdrew its support for the transfer until pay parity between present and future staff at the homes is assured.

The Labour group's move - announced by group leader Chris Chappell when the council met last Friday - is a response to cabinet's closed doors deal over staff terms and conditions at the homes once they are under private management.

Under the deal, existing staff at each home can move over with terms and conditions intact. New staff would be taken on to terms and conditions determined by SHAW - the firm chosen to run the homes.

Councillor Chappell told members that this risked a 'divided' workforce.

Councillor Olwyn Barnett, cabinet member for social care and strategic housing, said the authority was doing its 'level best' to ensure equal terms and conditions.

The Labour group's withdrawal of support damages the council's show of unity over the care homes transfer.

Speaking after the meeting, Eddie Clarke, spokesperson for local government union UNISON, said that equity in terms and conditions at the homes was now crucial to on-going negotiations with SHAW. New government guidelines on public sector staff transfers meant the council could stipulate contractual arrangements, he said.

"We are disappointed that the council does not seem prepared to do so."

Sue Fiennes, director of social care and strategic housing, said: "The aspiration of the recent guidance is understood by the council as is the concern of UNISON. It remains to be seen what the final considerations of the contract with SHAW will be."