UNION representatives will meet with Bron Afon housing association today in a bid to resolve an industrial dispute over pay cuts.

Support workers from the Cwmbran firm went on strike last week because the employer slashed their wages by more than £3,000.

Discussions will be convened at the request of UNISON Cymru, ahead of the planned 24-hour stoppage this Friday.

The trade union has criticised Bron Afon for refusing to respond to its formal grievance on behalf of all staff.

UNISON organiser, Rosie Lewis, said, “We’ve asked for this meeting because Bron Afon executives have to know their £3,000 wage cut is causing support workers real pain and anguish.

"They can’t afford to pay their bills or their rents. They are tense and desperate and it is no surprise that sickness absence levels through stress, have jumped."

She added:“This is no way to run a public service where those helping the vulnerable in our community are put under unjust and intolerable pressures.

"Our message to Bron Afon today will be: pay support workers for a fair day’s work.”

Cath Pullin, Bron Afon’s head of inclusion and support, said: “The Supported Living Team is a service funded through Supporting People.

"The previous contract ended on 31 March 2017 and we worked closely with all the staff in the team to put together a tender for the new service last year which we were delighted to win.

“That work started last August and it was explained to the team then that to put together a competitive tender it was likely that staff costs would have to be reduced.

“If we hadn’t won the contract the staff on fixed-term contracts would have been out of work at the end of March. But we were pleased to be successful and advertised the new jobs in February

“It has seen more staff employed in the service. Staff have kept generous benefits including access to the pension scheme and excellent sickness and holiday entitlement.

“The staff applied for the new jobs after being involved in the contract bidding process, shaping the team structure and seeing the salary and other benefits on offer.”