21st Jan 2021 10:04
(Alliance News) - Centrica PLC's British Gas workers are planning to burn new contracts when they stage another strike in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Members of the GMB union are taking several days of industrial action in protest at changes to their pay and hours.
The union said engineers will burn their new contracts at locations across the country on Friday, when they will be on strike for the seventh time this month.
More strikes are planned on January 25, 29, 30 and 31 and February 1.
The union said engineers are being threatened with the sack if they do not sign the new contracts by March.
GMB national officer Justin Bowden said: "GMB members at British Gas are burning the new contracts to show graphically their defiance of the imposition of hourly pay 15% below the agreed rate – as well as other changes.
"British Gas has provoked disruption to more than 100,000 households already in the backlog for services.
"That number will grow due to the new strike dates.
"The company needs to put customers and staff first by abandoning wishful thinking and taking 'fire and rehire' off the table."
British Gas disputes the 100,000 figure, saying: "We have strong contingency plans in place to ensure we will still be there for customers who really need us, and we'll prioritise vulnerable households and emergencies."
The company, owned by Centrica, maintains it is trying to protect jobs, stressing that basic pay and pensions are not being affected by the changes.
Shares in Centrica were down 0.3% at 51.48 in London on Thursday morning.
source: PA
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