GMB union keen to work with Centrica on business recovery

GMB want to work with Centrica on a shared recovery for the business

21 August 2020

GMB union want to work with Centrica on the business recovery. GMB Trade Union is the biggest union in British Gas and PH Jones, with over 10,000 members in every part of the business - 80% of the union membership in the company – and with members in almost every parliamentary constituency in the UK.

British Gas – under parent company Centrica – announced plans in June to make 5,000 staff redundant and drive through changes to pay and terms and conditions for most the companies’ workers. Then last month they revealed their intention to fire and rehire the entire 20,000 work force if they did not ‘agree’ to the changes similar to British Airways.

GMB want to work with Centrica on a shared recovery for the business which involves the workforce and ensures that necessary changes are made with the workers, not to them. The approach that management have taken so far has not made this possible.

We expect many of our members are planning or will have been in touch asking for your support in calling for the company to withdraw the redundancy notices and take the threat of the fire and rehire off the table and negotiate with the GMB in good faith.

We have a briefing note explaining in more details what has happened and what actions you can take to support your constituents and our members who have been affected. This can be accessed here: https://www.gmb.org.uk/sites/default/files/BG_MP_briefing_20August2020.pdf

The five actions we are hoping you can take are set out below.

  1. Write to Centrica Chief Executive Chris O’Shea, chris.oshea@centrica.com, to ask that he withdraws his threat to fire and rehire the workforce and starts meaningful negotiations. You can find a draft letter here.

  2. Let us know when you have sent a letter and share any response you get.

  3. Join our MP’s call with British Gas reps.  3.30pm-4.30pm Thursday 10th September. Your office can email Tom Warnett on tom.warnett@gmb.org.uk to make arrangements.

  4. Support GMB members in British Gas on social media using the hashtag #StopTheBritishGasFire.

  5. Call for greater protections for workers against fire and rehire tactics.

Thank you in advance for your support in this matter and for taking time to read the briefing.

Gavin Sibthorpe

GMB Political Officer

What is the GMB trade union calling for?

Centrica say that they need to make changes to the business to allow them to compete. But their approach has been to attempt to impose the changes on workers and threaten them with the sack if they don’t agree.We want to work with Centrica on a shared recovery for the business which involves the workforce and ensures that necessary changes are made withthe workers, not to them.The approach that management have taken so far has not made this possible.There isstill time for the company to negotiate in good faith, but first they must withdraw the redundancy notices and take the threat of the fire and rehire off the tableand get real about what is achievable

Please also find below the link to Contact your MP on the UK Parliament Website that you may wish to use to contact your MP also.
 

https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/#jump-link-0

GMB North West & Irish Region