SACKED Huddersfield care workers have pledged to fight "as long as it takes" to get justice.

The 16 home helps were dismissed after going on strike without an official vote eight weeks ago.

They had worked for Unique Care, which is contracted by Kirklees Council to look after 80 people in Birkby, Fixby and Fartown, including 25 residents in sheltered housing at Bradley Court.

The workers had walked out in protest at the sacking of home care manager Sonia Senior.

Unique Care then sacked all the strikers and advertised their jobs the same day.

But speaking at a protest outside Oldgate House yesterday the workers' spokeswoman

Joan Summers said: "We'll go on for as long as it takes to get justice."

And the Leeds Road woman added that their former clients at Bradley Court were behind them.

She said: "Of course we care about our clients and they support us."

But two months without an income is taking its toll on the women.

Mrs Summers said: "I'm living off my husband's pension at the moment. If it wasn't for that I would be on the streets begging."

Jacintha Scoon from Bradley is also feeling the pinch.

She said: "It's hard. I've had to cut back on some things because I have a mortgage to pay."

Mrs Scoon, who worked for Unique Care for eight years, said: "We're all helping each other. We talk and meet regularly."

But Mrs Scoon said she would like the dispute resolved.

She said: "I would like to go back to work. I miss my clients at Bradley Court, but I'm prepared to go on for as long as it takes."

Gloria Matheson is also feeling the strain.

She said: "It's been draining emotionally. We love our jobs but we had to take a stand."

And the Bradley woman added: "We want to raise awareness. We want our councillors to take note of what's going on."

The women have collected nearly 3,000 signatures protesting against their dismissal.

And the campaign has gone national.

Mrs Matheson said: "Three of us were collecting signatures at the Stop the War demo down in London at the weekend."

Unique Care, based on St John's Road, Birkby, told the Examiner it was "unforgivable" of the carers to strike without giving notice.

A spokeswoman said: "Some of our staff with direct client contact declared they were going on strike without following normal industrial procedures.

"This had the obvious potential of putting our clients at risk.

"Whatever grievances there were you don't just walk out and leave the most vulnerable people in our community without any care.

"That is unforgivable."

She added: "The clients are receiving and will continue to receive the level of service they have been assessed as needing."