British Gas strike days 39/42 from Friday 26 March as official lockout dispute over April 1 sackings loom

25 March 2021 Download as PDF

GMB British Gas strike days 39 to 42 on 26 to 29 March as April 1st mass sackings and lockout dispute looms over rejection of 15% pay cuts and other changes

Mr O’Shea - CEO of British Gas - has unilaterally created an April 1st cliff edge to sack his workers and is driving the company at high speed towards it says GMB London

GMB members in London and East of England at British Gas in the Field staff bargaining group will embark on strike days 39 to 42 from tomorrow Friday 26 to Monday 29 March in the deadlocked dispute over “fire and rehire” imposed cuts in pay rates and other changes. See notes to editors below for links to previous GMB London press releases.

12 noon today Thursday 25th March was set by British Gas as the deadline for staff to sign acceptance of the imposed cuts. Those who have not signed will not be paid lump sum payments of up to £4,500 and other so-called ‘protected terms’ offered by British Gas.

On Monday 29th March the company will give up to twelve weeks formal notice of termination for staff who have not accepted the imposed changes.

On Thursday April 1st those not accepting the imposed 15% cut and and changes to terms and conditions will be sacked with pay in lieu of the up to 12 weeks’ notice the company are required to give.

GMB members in this bargaining group have already overwhelmingly and repeatedly rejected these imposed changes.

On Tuesday 23rd March the GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) agreed to declare an official national lockout dispute between British Gas and GMB from April 1st unless the company pulls back from the brink.

The CEC also instructed the dispute leaders to consult on further strike dates and other appropriate action in view of the looming lockout dispute.

Gary Pearce, GMB London Region Senior Officer for Energy said:

“Mr O’Shea - CEO of British Gas - has unilaterally created an April 1st cliff edge to sack his workers and is driving the company at high speed toward it.

“If Mr O Shea goes ahead with this reckless action the GMB Executive has agreed to declare an official national lockout dispute between British Gas and GMB from April 1st. There will also be further strikes and other appropriate industrial and other action in this deadlocked dispute.

“For the CEO to gamble the future of a profitable business on a strategic decision of mass sackings is illogical. It will leave everyone bewildered.

“It is all the more illogical in that from the recent talks at ACAS, Mr O’Shea apologised for undermining trust by accepting dodgy legal advice to go ahead with ‘fire and rehire’ and promised never ever to go down this road again.

“There is still time to pull back. Mr O’Shea should do what’s right for the business, customers and the workers and take April 1st off the table.”

END

Contact: Gary Pearce, GMB London Region Senior Officer for Energy 078 5003 6952

Notes to editors

Previous press releases from GMB London Region

22 March 2021

GMB London - GMB Executive to consider official national lockout dispute with British Gas over April 1st mass sackings

19 March 2021

GMB London - British Gas engineers in deadlocked national dispute over a 15% cut in pay rates and other imposed changes

11 March 2021

GMB London - Gas and electrical engineers will be on strike again from tomorrow in deadlocked dispute

5 March 2021