Unions brand Centrica’s restructure explanation as ‘vague and unsatisfactory’  

Centrica needs to provide greater clarification on the impact the loss of around 5,000 jobs will have on frontline workers, the Unite Union has said.

Following the announcement earlier today that the company was to undertake a dramatic restructure which would see the loss of thousands of roles, more than half of which are managerial, Britain and Ireland’s largest union said a conference call between Centrica’s management and the unions this morning was “vague and unsatisfactory”.

Unite says it wants more clarity on the impact of the managerial job losses would have on the future of electrical services engineers that are customer-facing.

Regional officer Mark Pettifer said: “These job losses are another blow to the already fragile British economy and have created worrying uncertainty amongst the entire workforce.

“Following today’s conference call, there was no clarity as to how these job losses at the various management levels would affect those delivering frontline services, such as our members who provide an essential service to British Gas customers’ homes across the country.

“It was all a bit vague and unsatisfactory – and we will be pressing the company in the days and weeks ahead ‘to put flesh on the bones’ as to how these job losses will affect – or not , as the case may be –  those in customer-facing roles.

“We are demanding much greater clarity and reassurance for our members who are providing much needed services to the nation’s households.”

“Crippled and weak”

GMB national secretary Justin Bowden slammed the management of the company, vowing his union, which has 12,000 members from Centrica, will fight for every job.

He said: “A combination of the SVT cap and too little too late management decisions have left a once proud brand crippled and weak.

“Slashing thousands more jobs is not the answer. You cannot just cut your way out of a crisis. GMB will fight for every single job.”

Sue Ferns, Prospect senior deputy general secretary, said: “The job losses at Centrica reflect the pressures on energy businesses as a result of Covid-19 and the support given to vulnerable customers.

“As a country, we need to agree a way of meeting the social and environmental costs of energy supply without placing the burden on employees committed to serving consumers.

“The current approach is to give staff a choice of reduced terms and conditions of employment or redundancy.

“This is not acceptable and Prospect will be doing all it can to come to a satisfactory solution for its members. We will be meeting with the company tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Juliet Davenport, chief executive of renewable power supplier Good Energy, said those who have lost their jobs could have a role to play in rebuilding the UK’s green economy following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s really disappointing to see jobs go at British Gas, but it feels like a trend. Old business models are failing. Let’s find these 5,000 people roles within the 700,000 new green jobs we can create in the next 10 years by investing in a clean, green economy, driven by renewables”, she said.