Despite its parent company making a profit of £901 million, British Gas is trying to force workers to sign new contracts on reduced conditions.
British Gas workers protest outside the Welsh parliament today say they feel betrayed by the company’s attempts to get them to sign new contracts on reduced conditions.
Many of them were particularly angry that this move was being made while British Gas parent company Centric had made a £901 million profit in 2019.
” British Gas sets a dangerous precedent and completely undermines worker representation. It basically says that the employer can impose whatever they like, and by using fire and rehire they can sidestep the bargaining process,” says Tom Hoyles, Press and Research Administer for GMB Wales and South West.
The TUC has warned that ‘fire and rehire’ tactics have become widespread during the pandemic, with new polling finding that nearly one in ten workers have been told to reapply for their jobs on worse terms amid the pandemic.
“Britain already has too few worker protections, this would be a step too far,” says Tom.
Celia Rumbold, who has been working as an engineer in British Gas for 13 years, states that “the company has attacked all aspects of our contract from working hours, holidays, sickness pay and overtime. And they are asking us to work an additional 20days per year for the same money.”
‘’It feels like the British Gas has betrayed us, This is a company that is still making a vast amount of money- even during the Covid pandemic,” says Celia.
Celia says that Tesco is also using the same tactics to their workers like us.
“We are looking at much lower pay cuts, company was unhappy with that so they walk away from the negotiation. What they told to staffs is to accept those contents that they put on them or they will all be sacked and reapply their job over lower terms and conditions,” says Tom Hoyles.
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party states on Twitter that “When a company starts off negotiations, with the threat that reduced terms and conditions will be imposed anyway it makes a mockery of the whole process.”
“One of the things that you get with British Gas is a career job, a good quality job, it is not like the job that you walk into and get paid, it is good old fashion job, good company to look after you. What they do will change the entire nature of employment,” adds Tom.
The British Gas workers have until 31st March to accept this new contract or they will be dismissed and rehired on the new terms.