STRIKE action by 58 care workers was averted after emergency talks between Social Services and the trade union Unison.

Four days' industrial action had been called in response to plans to harmonise working practices of the care workers with other employees.

This involved issuing new contracts which ended premium pay for weekend work - meaning pay cuts of up to 20 per cent.

Changes in annual leave also meant the workers would not be able to take more than one or two weekends off a year.

Assistant Branch Secretary Bob Adams said this would prevent staff from taking traditional two-week holidays with their families.

He said: "The staff targetted by these changes are mainly women and probably the lowest paid of health service staff - yet they were basically being asked to pay to be 'harmonised' with the rest of the health service."

After emergency talks, Unison agreed to call off the strike in return for the council's withdrawal of the new contracts.

Both sides also committed to negotiations on harmonising the care workers' conditions of work.