98% of GMB Union members have voted to go to an official Industrial action ballot over pay
Northern Gas Networks (NGN) have made a derisory offer to GMB members which has been overwhelmingly rejected.
Whilst the COVID 19 crisis had interrupted pay talks which begun before the lockdown, the initial offer from the company was rejected with Union officials asking the company to come back with an improved offer.
However the company have now come back with a worse offer than before, blaming the COVID 19 crisis.
Pay and terms and conditions have been under attack by NGN for several years with workers' pay packets stagnating whilst living costs rise.
For years’ staff have become more and more disgruntled, with the latest move by the company pushing them over the edge and towards industrial action.
GMB Regional officer Andrew Aldwinkle said:
“Industrial action is always a last resort, but we’ve given NGN ample opportunity to come back with an improved offer which they’ve refused to do.
“Our members deliver a high-quality service that has enabled shareholders to reap the benefits of high dividends, whilst seeing their own pay struggle to keep up with the cost of living.
“Our members have had enough, their vote in favour by 98% of members should be a warning to NGN that we cannot and will not go back to business as usual.”
