29/11/2005

British Gas workers set to stage strikes

Thousands of British Gas engineers are set to stage five 24-hour strikes over pension rights.

The strikes will be held on December 12, 19 and 21 and January 6 and 9, the GMB union announced.

The union also announced that out-of-hour cover would also be suspended between December 12 – 23 and January 4 – 10.

Around 6,000 British Gas engineers will take part in the strike action. Last week, the engineers voted 4-to-1 in favour of strike action.

The row centred on the closure of a final pension scheme to new entrants from January. The GMB has accused British Gas and its owner Centrica of reneging on an agreement over the pension scheme, made two years ago.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary, said it was “imperative” that British Gas met with the union to resolve the dispute. He said: “We are offering cover during this period of industrial action to British Gas customers who are at risk – which means the elderly and those with very young children who do not have heating. We have also avoided action over the Christmas and New Year period to try to minimize the impact on the public.”

(KMcA/SP)

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