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28 November, 2005
Some 6,000 trade union members of UK affiliate GMB have voted by a four-to-one margin for industrial action against British Gas, wholly-owned by British-based Centrica Plc.
The workers are resisting company attempts to close the final salary pension scheme to new workers. GMB has offered to review the pension scheme at the next actuarial valuation, but Centrica is insistent on achieving £200 million in costs savings immediately and final salary pension benefits for new hires is on the company’s hit list.
The 6,000 are technicians and engineers who install, service and repair domestic furnaces. GMB shop stewards will decide this week on dates of action.