Fight British Gas’s ‘fire and rehire’ action

Monday, March 8 saw GMB members working for British Gas take their 25th day of strike action.

Approximately 7,000 British Gas engineers across the UK downed tools over the company’s plan to sack them all and rehire them on worse terms and conditions.

In Windsor, members of GMB were picketing outside the parent company Centrica. Slough & District Trades Council went along to show their solidarity with members of Windsor Labour Party.

‘Fire and rehire’ is an attack on workers’ employment rights.

In any ‘normal’ time, this would be considered an affront to working people but during a pandemic, it is little short of thuggish.

British Gas decided it wanted changes in working practices – which represented inferior terms and conditions – and started negotiating with GMB last summer 2020.

No progress was made and talks broke down.

Talks resumed just recently with ACAS involved but with the company still refusing to take ‘fire and rehire’ off the table.

Many workers are long standing employees of British Gas and feel bitterly let down. Many are considering leaving and this action by the company does nothing to attract new people to the job and for young people to consider joining an apprenticeship.

At the same time, parent company Centrica has recently announced adjusted operating profits of almost £700 million.

The fact that ordinary people who use British Gas are paying inflated bills when the company is so profitable adds insult to injur y.

Public support has been ‘fantastic’ according to GMB members and this was evident last Monday according to the number of toots and waves from passing motorists.

GMB engineers need support from the general public and from local councils who can step up to challenge such appalling practices and, in the case of Windsor, right on their doorstep.

Given the appalling trend in workers’ contracts with the ‘fire and rehire’ practice getting a hold, a wake-up call is desperately needed.

If readers want to find out more and/or to add their support to GMB’s campaign to end ‘fire and rehire’, then look at www.gmb.org.uk.

You will gain further insight into this dispute and get latest updates on this vitally important campaign. You can also go along to meet the strikers locally and talk to them about their grievance.

MARGERY THOROGOOD, Secretary, Slough & District Trades Council, ANGUS

CAMERON , Chair, Windsor CLP and Slough Borough councillors Cllr ZAFFAR

AJAIB, Cllr SABIA AKRAM, Cllr BALVINDER BAINS, Cllr JINA BASRA, Cllr

PRESTON BROOKER, Cllr ARVIND DHALIWAL, Cllr HARJINDER GAHIR, Cllr CHRISTINE HULME, Cllr PAVITAR MANN,

Cllr FIZA MATLOOB, Cllr DILBAGH PARMAR, Cllr ATIQ SANDHU and Cllr

JAMES SWINDLEHURST