Gas pipes workers begin industrial action which could have an effect in Lancashire
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The GMB union said that despite the fact that nearly 2,000 GMB members voted to walk out in a strike ballot last month, the union was only calling on members to take part in an overtime ban from 00:01 on Tuesday, May 10 after giving the company a chance to improve its offer.
The overtime ban includes stopping working additional hours and members will withdraw from pre-planned overtime to cover gaps in rosters and sick leave and could potentially cause outages at homes and businesses throughout five regions in England; North West, East and West Midlands, East Anglia and North London.
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Hide AdWorkers rejected a below inflation pay increase of 2 per cent for 2021 and 4 per cent from July 22, saying that with inflation running at 9 per cent, the deal amounted to a real terms pay cut.
The union pointed out that Cadent, which looks after the gas mains infrastructure in Lancashire, made an operating profit of £901m in 2021, while CEO Steve Fraser was paid £1.4m in 2020/21.
Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, said: “Despite members voting overwhelmingly for strike action, as a gesture of goodwill members will begin with a short term overtime ban.
"But workers will not hesitate to escalate to strike action if the company doesn’t come back to the table with an improved pay offer.
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Hide Ad‘It shows how out of step senior management are; they’re just not listening to their employees and the problems facing working people across the country.”