British Gas engineers overwhelmingly reject proposals amounting to little more than a zero hours contract with a bonus scheme
A giant bird joined protesters outside Centrica HQ to make a serious point to British Gas bosses: stop threatening to fire and rehire workers who won’t ‘accept’ cuts, get round the table and ‘talk turkey’.
The demo in Windsor came as GMB British Gas members overwhelmingly rejected proposals from parent company Centrica to cut pay and terms and conditions.
The 7,500 gas and electrical engineers voted against the deal by a ratio of more than 8 to 1 on an 86% turnout.
GMB members at British Gas are currently voting on industrial action in a separate ballot against the threat by Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea to fire and rehire the entire workforce.
The ballot closes on December 17 – with strike action possible anytime from New Year’s Eve.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:
“GMB engineers in British Gas have overwhelmingly rejected proposals from Centrica to cut pay and terms and conditions that amount to little more than a zero hours contract attached to a bonus scheme.
“These unacceptable proposals from British Gas would do extensive damage to the work-life balance of thousands of gas and electrical engineers across the country.
“GMB has written to Centrica Chairman Scott Wheway calling for the fire and rehire threat to be permanently removed and for British Gas to return to the negotiating table and reach a deal that is fair all round.
"It’s time for British Gas and Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea to talk turkey.”
