Members down tools as cities across the UK lit up with messages of support
GMB members at British Gas will down tools on January 20, 22, 25, 29, 30, 31 and February 1 as cities across the UK lit up with ‘Stop the British Gas Fire’ messages of support
Thousands of GMB members at British Gas begin a fresh seven-day strike today [January 20] over the company’s strategy to fire them all and rehire them on worse terms and conditions.
Engineers and other workers will also down tools on January 22, 25, 29, 30, 31 and February 1 in anger as profitable British Gas provokes further disruption for its customers.
Meanwhile overnight, huge messages of support for the striking workers were projected on iconic buildings across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
British Gas engineers and staff voted overwhelmingly by 89% to strike after boss of parent company Centrica Chris O’Shea threatened to fire them all if they didn’t “accept” cuts to pay and terms and conditions.
The strikes provoked by the company have caused massive disruption already – with an estimated 100,000 homes waiting for service across the country.
Loyal, hardworking British Gas engineers are being fired and rehired and have been left with no choice but to take action again.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary
British Gas parent company Centrica reported an operating profit (before exceptional items and tax) of £901 million in 2019.
The operating profitability of its UK home heating business rose by 27 per cent in the first six months of 2020.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:
“A profitable British Gas is provoking disruption leading to a backlog of more than 100,000 customers waiting for service so far.
“The backlog will grow due to the impact of the next seven days of stoppages. The company doesn’t seem to care about services to customers.
“Loyal, hardworking British Gas engineers are being fired and rehired and have been left with no choice but to take action again.
“British Gas should start focussing on the workforce and customers who make it profitable – without either the company is nothing and CEO Chris O’Shea needs to take a large dose of reality and look at the mess he has made.”
