A CARE homes firm which has had to pay out nearly £1million to staff following a pay dispute said it was satisfied with the compromise agreement Excelcare agreed to pay £983,000 to 115 care workers as a tribunal loomed over claims by unions Unison and GMB they were unfairly sacked.

The former Essex County Council workers claimed they were dismissed in 2006 for not accepting pay cuts of up to 50 per cent after the firm took control of ten care homes in Essex.

A spokesman for Excelcare said: “The satisfactory outcome means Excelcare and its staff can now divert its energy and resources into the efficient running of the homes to ensure the welfare of residents and the long term job security of the 500 or so staff employed in the ten care homes being the subject matter of this case.

“Since 2005, Excelcare has designed and constructed four new care homes, in the Essex region, with a fifth one to open shortly.

“The result has been a significant increase in beds with more comfortable ensuite rooms.”

Exelcare insisted it had to introduce new contracts with lower wages and changed working conditions after taking over the homes.

The spokesman added: “The case was the result of hard decisions Excelcare was forced to take in order to keep the homes open, provide continuity of care, avoid serious disruption to the lives of residents and preserve essential jobs.”