A UNION is preparing to launch legal and industrial action against a charity which is getting rid of up to 20 nursing staff from care homes.

The redundancies will be introduced at Charlotte Grange, Throston Grange and Gardner House care homes, Hartlepool, with staff learning their fate today.

The decision is yet another blow to residential care homes in the town following the closure of the Granville Avenue care home in April.

Charlotte Grange, Gardner House and Throston Grange are all operated by the charity Community Integrated Care (CIC), after ownership was transferred from Hartlepool Borough Council in 1999.

Staff previously on contracts with the council will be offered new CIC deals with different rates of pay and working conditions. It is believed these will be offered today, when departing staff are given a month's notice.

Earlier this year, the charity shut Stranton House, also in the town, and transferred 30 residents to other homes.

A spokeswoman from the company said the redundancies were inevitable because of the closure of Stranton House, but said the new pay deals were the same as the old council contracts.

However, Edwin Jeffries, of the public services union, Unison, said: "The trade unions, GMB and Unison are examining all options, including legal action, to resist the imposition of changes to the terms and conditions of service of their members

"The new reductions include a reduction in the hourly rates of pay, removal of all shift allowances, reduction in holiday entitlement and sickness allowances.

"Some staff would lose up to 60 per cent of gross pay. For example, a night care worker who works weekends and gets £208 gross, will receive £83.60 gross under the CIC terms.

"This situation is clearly unacceptable and industrial action cannot be ruled out."