2nd Feb 2021 05:56
(Alliance News) - Both sides in the British Gas engineers' dispute will be quizzed by MPs on Tuesday amid an escalation of industrial action in the row over pay and conditions.
Members of the GMB union have staged 12 strikes this year and will walk out again on Friday for four days.
The union is opposed to new contracts, which, it said, cut pay and increases the working week for engineers.
British Gas - which is a part of Centrica PLC - says it is trying to protect jobs.
Chris O'Shea, chief executive of British Gas owners Centrica, and GMB national officer Justin Bowden will be questioned on Tuesday by the Business Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the labour market.
Committee chairman Darren Jones, said: "Businesses and workers have had a very tough time over the last year.
"Over 800,000 people have lost their jobs since the pandemic took hold and there are very real fears that many more people will face the same bleak fate over the coming months.
"There is no doubt that many businesses have faced difficult trading conditions, but concerns have been raised that some employers are resorting to tactics such as 'fire and rehire' and seeking to downgrade pay and workers' terms during the pandemic.
"It's important we begin to understand the long-term impact for workers from the Covid pandemic, examining how we can improve future employment legislation to ensure the protection of workers, including those working the 'gig-economy', and also ensure we modernise the labour market to foster future jobs growth."
By Alan Jones
source: PA
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