Covid-19 and the Employers' Offensive

Trade unions have accused the owner of British Gas of using the Covid-19 pandemic as a “smokescreen” to force its 20,000 employees to accept worse employment contracts – or lose their jobs.

Centrica is in talks to “simplify” the wide range of employment contracts used across its 20,000-strong workforce, having announced plans last month to axe 5,000 jobs.

But talks between Centrica’s management and trade union representatives have reached breaking point over so-called “fire and rehire” plans, which unions fear could erode the employment terms of thousands of workers.

Unions have accused the company of raising the possibility of a section 188 notice in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak to “blackmail” staff into agreeing to lower pay and tougher contract terms, following record losses at the company prior to the pandemic. 

Matthew Bateman, the managing director of British Gas, told employees via a video meeting this week that there was a possibility that the company may need to give notice to all employees that their current terms and conditions would be ended and new terms offered.

Unite said the “smokescreen” was part of a “disturbing trend” among some of Britain’s biggest employers. Referring to proposals by British Airways to change terms and conditions for thousands of staff under a section 188 notice, Mark Pettifer, the regional officer for Unite, said: “Centrica is adopting the same tactics as British Airways and is using Covid-19 as a smokescreen to cut jobs of loyal and dedicated staff who have worked through the lockdown providing energy to the nation.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/16/british-gas-owner-using-covid-19-as-smokescreen-to-alter-staff-contracts