98% of GMB members overwhelmingly vote to reject UK Power Network’s pay offer

UK Power Networks who maintain the electricity network across London and the South East made over £600m in profit last year but have tabled what they have advised GMB is their full and final offer - 5.4% increase to base pay.

UK Power Networks dished out £237m to shareholders and awarded its CEO a whopping 11% increase, taking his base pay to £2m in the previous financial year.

John Colquhoun, GMB London Regional Organiser said:

“The offer on the table is a slap in the face for our hard-working members across the business who the employer recognises as a high-performing workforce.

“We are entering into the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and the company is choosing to throw money to those at the top, rather than our members who create the wealth. These workers are facing a tsunami of rising household costs that will plunge them into financial difficulty. The fact is, the money is there and it’s plentiful, so it would not be hard to make an acceptable offer.

“The huge rejection of the current offer must be considered seriously if the company wishes to avoid industrial action that would have major effects on business and household energy supplies.”

GMB is calling on UK Power Networks to continue meaningful negotiations that result in a pay award acceptable to our members.

End

Contact: John Colquhoun, GMB London Region Organiser 079 7805 3114

GMB London Region Press Office 079 7001 9643 / London.press@gmb.org.uk

Editors Notes:

Full offer:

• 1st April 2022 - Increase of Basic Salaries and Associated Allowances of 5.4%
• A non-consolidated, non-pensionable payment of £500 (pro-rated for part time employees) to be paid to employees in February 2023 salary payment
• Two weeks full pay paternity leave effective from date of acceptance
• The Company will review whether the Falconwood depot should be within the inner London weighting area at the date of acceptance of this offer