SSE planned sale shows precarious nature of UK energy market, says UNISON

UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea warns that potential deal could threaten jobs and pensions

Commenting today (Friday) on the news that energy company SSE is to sell its retail business to Ovo Energy, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Staff at SSE will understandably be concerned their jobs might go following the move. That’s why we’ll be seeking assurances that not a single post disappears.

“The sale is yet another sign that the UK’s energy sector is in a precarious state. The solution is to take the consumer arms of the largest energy firms into public ownership.

“This would provide better security for jobs, help deliver the government’s carbon neutral target, encourage us all to be more energy efficient and deliver cheaper bills.”

Notes to editors:
– Earlier this year UNISON published Power to the People, which said nationalising the retail arms of the big six energy firms – British Gas (Centrica), SSE, E.ON, EDF Energy, Npower (Innogy) and Scottish Power – would help the UK become carbon neutral by 2050. The report said the move would create a new ‘green army’ of workers dedicated to helping businesses and the public become more energy efficient, cut their bills and save the planet.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk