GMB British Gas members vote overwhelmingly to reject proposals from Centrica to cut pay and terms and conditions.
Protestors - including a giant rubber GMB turkey - to gather at Centrica HQ tomorrow telling bosses ’turkeys don’t vote for Christmas’
GMB British Gas members today (December 8) overwhelmingly rejected proposals from parent company Centrica to cut pay and terms and conditions.
The ballot of 7,500 gas and electrical engineers saw 86% vote against the deal – which would amount to pay cuts of around 10% on much of the workforce from next year.
Protesters, including a giant rubber GMB turkey, will gather outside Centrica’s headquarters tomorrow telling bosses: 'turkeys don’t vote for Christmas’ - demonstrators will also deliver a giant invitation to British Gas bosses to drop the threat to fire and rehire the entire workforce and return to the negotiating table.
The socially distanced event takes place as follows:
Date: Wednesday, December 9th 2020
Time: 11:00
Location: Centrica HQ, Millstream, Maidenhead Rd, Windsor SL4 5GD
GMB members at British Gas are currently voting on industrial action in a separate ballot closing on December 17 – with the first possible strike action to take place anytime from New Year’s Eve.
GMB will ensure measures are in place to protect the elderly and vulnerable.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:
“British Gas and Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea must learn the lesson that workers don’t vote for pay cuts any more than turkeys vote for Christmas.
“GMB engineers in British Gas have overwhelmingly rejected Centrica’s proposals 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.”
