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GMB Call Off Gas Strikes As Members Vote To Accept New Offer On Pensions
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Date: 23 January 2006
Following a ballot of members on proposals reached at ACAS before Christmas, GMB members in British Gas have voted by 85% to call off further strikes in favour of the deal put to them. This follows a one-day strike in December and more had been planned for the New Year.
GMB National Secretary, Brian Strutton said “Our members stood up to British Gas to protect pensions for the future. They can be justly proud of this.”
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Contact: Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary on 020 8947 3131 or Steve Pryle, GMB Press Officer on 07921 289880
Notes to Editors
On 19th December 2005 put out a statement as follows:
GMB has agreed to suspend its industrial action and put the new proposals to its members. Under the deal:
All existing trainee and qualified engineers that joined the business after 1 January 2003, and are not already members of CEPS, will be offered the opportunity to join (around 1,700)
Centrica has agreed to pay an additional lump sum of £35 million into CEPS and has given written assurances on the security of the scheme as part of its commitment to future funding
Following closure of CEPS, new recruits will be able to join a new career-average salary section of the scheme called CERIS (Centrica Engineers Retirement Income Section) which has been described by independent pensions experts as one of the best available
Closure of the final salary Centrica Engineers Pension Scheme (CEPS) for new recruits to British Gas Services will be deferred to 31 March 2006
Brian Strutton, National Secretary, GMB said:
"Following the tremendous show of strength by GMB members taking part in last Monday's strike we have negotiated a deal through ACAS which will be put to the engineers.
"Although I am very disappointed that Centrica has refused to reconsider its decision to close the pension scheme to new starters, I am pleased that we have won the opportunity for another [1,700] current employees to join the scheme. In addition, we have secured £35 million extra funding and written guarantees on the future security of pensions in British Gas Services. We are suspending industrial action while we consult."
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