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GMB question the sale of four gas distribution networks .

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Date / 28th January 2005

The GMB - Britain's General Union - has today questioned the Government's approval for the sale of four gas distribution networks and claims that £225m will be saved for consumers over the next 18 years through increased competition.

GMB National Secretary Brian Strutton said:
"The GMB has always had grave concerns, on safety and security grounds, about the break up of the nation's gas distribution network into separate companies.

"The companies who buy these networks are financial consortia who will need to make a sizeable return, and experience suggests they will either skimp on maintenance or customers will not see the promised benefits.

"The Government's suggested savings for customers are unfounded and in any case, are about one tenth of the proceeds National Grid Transco will make from these sales. How can that be called a consumer benefit? It sounds more like a fat cat benefit to me.

"GMB members, the employees, are the only ones who will not benefit. There has been no recognition of their contribution to the business. It should be no surprise to Transco that there is growing anger in the workforce."

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