Centrica jobs cuts are a ‘terrible blow’ but there’s a solution

Retail arms of big six energy firms should be nationalised

Commenting on the announcement today (Wednesday) that 700 jobs are to go at Centrica, UNISON national energy officer Matt Lay said:

“This is another terrible blow for a workforce that’s already seen hundreds of jobs go. It’s a catastrophe being repeated up and down the country as all the major energy suppliers axe staff in a desperate attempt to stay afloat.

“But it doesn’t have to be this way. If the government took the retail arms of the big six energy firms into public ownership these jobs could be saved. The staff could then help us all go green and ensure the UK meets its target to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

Note to editors:
– Earlier this week UNISON published Power to the People, a report calling on the government to nationalise the parts of the big six energy firms* that sell energy to customers to help the UK hit its carbon neutral target by 2050.
– The big six energy firms are British Gas (Centrica), SSE, E.ON, EDF Energy, Npower (Innogy) and Scottish Power (Iberdrola).

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk