Gas engineer is one of hundreds now out of work
A BRITISH Gas engineer has described the devastation of losing his job after hundreds of staff left the company following months of contract disputes.
Nick Groucott, 46, from Newport, was one of hundreds of British Gas workers who officially left yesterday after refusing to sign new contracts offered by the company earlier this year.
GMB union workers claimed the new contracts offered as a result of a new “fire and rehire” policy by British Gas “completely destroyed” their working conditions.
They claimed the new terms and conditions meant working additional hours for no extra pay, a possibility of more unsociable hours, as well as changes to sick pay and holiday entitlements.
Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, denied this, saying its new terms and conditions would not mean a reduction to base pay and that workers would not be taking a pay cut.
Participating workers took part in 43 days of strikes since January including in Cardiff, Newport and around the UK, but Wednesday marked the end of the fight for many of the staff.
“We were expecting some sort of change [from the company],” admitted Mr Groucott yesterday.
“With the company being called in front of the select committee and the likes of Boris Johnson and Mark Drakeford being critical of our treatment, we had a big following.
“We really did think they’d come back with a better offer.”
However, despite last-ditch talks with GMB in February, the workers deemed the final offer unacceptable and finished for good this week.
Mr Groucott worked his final shifts last weekend, which he admitted were “horrendous”.
“I had work on the Saturday and Sunday, they took my van back on Monday and I was on rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said.
“The last weekend was just horrendous – customers asking you what’s going on, obviously after seeing it in the media.
Most of them just can’t believe it when you tell them there’s no redundancy pay.
“It makes you feel worthless. Twenty years of service, gone just like that. All because we wouldn’t sign worse contracts.
“From today I’ll have to set up on my own. I have no choice – being an engineer is all I know. But the cost will have a big impact on my family life. I’ve got to find the money from somewhere.”
Despite losing his job, Mr Groucott said he and the other workers felt proud of their efforts not to be forced into what they felt would be worse working conditions.
“I’m lost for words really. I can’t express how angry I am. I have had my livelihood taken away by greed and bullying.
“If I could say one thing, it would be that you won’t bully me, and I would rather walk away than be bullied.”
Newport West MP Ruth Jones said on Wednesday: “My thoughts go out to the British Gas engineers who are being sacked today.
“Loyal engineers are being sacked for not signing a contract with significantly worse terms and conditions.
“No redundancy pay, nor and apology. Shameful.”
A Centrica spokesperson said: “There is a job for everyone at the end of this process. We are changing the way we work to give our customers the service they want and protect the future of our company and 20,000 UK jobs.
“Today marks the end of the period for our employees to sign new contracts. These are highly competitive, and our changes are reasonable.
“Around 98% of the entire company has accepted and we hope the remaining also sign and choose to stay.
“We have not cut base pay or changed our generous final salary pensions.
“Our gas service engineers remain some of the best paid in the sector, earning £40,000 a year minimum.
“While change is difficult, reversing our decline which has seen us lose over three million customers, cut over 15,000 jobs and seen profits halved over the last 10 years is necessary.
“The changes will also unlock our ability to grow jobs and hire 1,000 green apprentices over the next two years.”