PAY ROW 1

British Gas is locked in a pay row with its call centre staff. Unions are recommending workers reject a 2.15% pay rise.

The offer includes a 1.75% basic increase and 0.4% for agreeing to changes to working hours.

Those include, at times, manning phones until 10pm at night, Sundays and bank holidays.

More than 8,400 are affected and the GMB and Unison are holding a consultative ballot.

A GMB notice seen by the Mirror says: “Any attempt to force a contractual change without members’ consent would be met by a fierce industrial response.”

The boss of British Gas owner Centrica, Iain Conn, saw his pay and perks package rocket nearly 40% last year to £4.1million.

A British Gas spokesman said: “We have held talks with our trade unions and hope to continue our constructive dialogue imminently.”