Senior Labour Councillors in Ealing today condemned plans by care home operator Viridian Housing to make severe cuts to the pay and conditions of their lowest paid staff while the CEO awards himself huge pay increase.

Viridian began consultation with all ‘Care and Housekeeping staff’ on ‘Significant changes to the PFI Terms and Conditions’ in October 2016.

All affected staff will be required to take a pay cut of between 5% and 12%, a loss of between £870 and £2,500 per year.

These proposals do not affect managers or any office support – it will only apply to the ‘low paid front line care and housekeeping staff’.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of Viridian, Nick Apetroaie, has awarded himself an 8.5% increase in his own 2015-16 salary bringing it to £162,844 -; an increase of almost £13,000 in a single year and around £20,000 higher than that of the Prime Minister.

Labour Leader of Ealing Council, Cllr Julian Bell, said:

“When Ealing Care Alliance contracted Viridian to look after our elderly residents, they rightly expected that service to be of the highest standard and for the company to do what is best for families in our Borough.

If the Executives at Viridian have such difficulty in understanding the hard work that their staff put in on the front line of elderly care in Ealing then perhaps they should muck in for a few days and see just how valuable this work really is.

The decision to implement large pay cuts is a disgrace and I call on Viridian to scrap these insulting and dangerous plans.”

Labour Cllr Hitesh Tailor, Cabinet Member for Health and Adults’ services, said:

“I have met with Viridian to express my dismay and anger at these plans. Cutting the pay and conditions of those working tirelessly to look after our older people is insulting to those front line staff and devalues their roles, and which may put at risk the service quality to some of our most vulnerable residents.

I urge Viridian to drop these plans.”

Ends

Notes

• Viridian Housing manages the Ealing Older Persons Care services based in four units across the borough (Sycamore Lodge, Martin House, Elm Lodge and Chestnut Lodge).

• For further comment and background contact:

  • Seph Brown, Political Assistant, 020 8825 6954, brownse@ealing.gov.uk