Vote paves way for strike

BRITISH Gas could be hit with strike action over what union chiefs say are owner Centrica’s plans to “fire and rehire” its 20,000 UK workers.

A consultative ballot of 10,000 GMB members at British Gas and another business, PH Jones, resulted in 95 per cent backing industrial action on a turnout of 67.5 per cent. It paves the way for a strike ballot in the autumn.

The GMB says Centrica wants to axe its UK workforce and reemploy them on worse terms and conditions. Centrica insisted changing workers’ T&Cs would be a last resort, and that there would be no impact on base pay or pensions. A spokesperson added: “We urgently need to act now to win back customers, grow our company and protect more jobs in the long run.” up 35.3 at 6111.9

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WATCHDOGS are weighing up a possible probe into the proposed £780million merger between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s beermaking arm. Any investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into whether it is bad for customers could scupper a plan to seal the deal, which was announced in June, by September.

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