Meeting on Wednesday nights throughout 2007, careworkers organised several days of strike action to demand the return of their money and leave allowances.

Unison recruited well in the first instance and strikes were well attended - even though many careworkers were new to the notion of industrial action.

'It’s always the low-paid workers that they’re hitting,' said Fremantle domestic worker Breege Kelly at a November 2007 strike.

Kelly had worked in the laundries and kitchens of Barnet Council and Fremantle carehomes for 18 years.

She got her letter telling her to sign the new contract just before Christmas 2006.

Now, she takes extra shifts on transport duty to make up the hours she lost.

Others have had to look to their families for help.

'I relied on the weekend money and we lost all of our holidays as well [with the new contract],' said Joyce Smith, another domestic worker.

Smith had worked in Barnet carehomes for nearly 30 years. After the cuts, Smith's husband came out of retirement and got a part time job, to help pay the bills. 'We've still got a mortgage.'

Photo: Fremantle careworkers' strike rally, 10 November 2007.