British Gas staff vote to accept changes to their terms and conditions

‘With the firm’s prospects looking increasingly insecure, staff have reluctantly voted to try to save their jobs and livelihoods,’ says UNISON

Office and call centre staff working for British Gas have this week voted overwhelmingly to accept a series of revised proposals, negotiated by UNISON, affecting their pay, working hours and leave.

In the ballot, 86% of the office-based staff voted to accept the measures. Over three quarters (76%) of employees who were eligible to vote took part.

Earlier in the year, the struggling energy giant proposed several drastic changes affecting the workforce.

But following months of negotiations, UNISON was able to secure a number of improvements, which were then put to the British Gas employees to vote upon.

Commenting on the ballot result today, UNISON national energy officer Matt Lay said: “Staff are in an impossible position. No-one wants their pay frozen or any weakening of their contracts, but with thousands of jobs at stake, call centre staff are anxious about the future.

“The company was struggling before the pandemic, but the virus has dealt the economy a devastating blow. These concerns have clearly been uppermost in people’s minds.

“With the firm’s prospects looking increasingly insecure, staff have reluctantly voted to try to save their jobs and livelihoods.”

Although there will still be a pay freeze, union negotiations mean that basic salaries will be protected, the working week remains at 37 hours and changes to annual leave are to be phased in. A profit-sharing scheme will be introduced, and staff will receive a £1,000 transition payment.