Outage warning as thousands of gas workers to go on strike over pay
25.05.2022 - 19:17
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Thousands of Cadent gas workers are to go on a 48-hour strike later this month in a dispute over pay.
Around 2,000 members of the GMB Union will down tools for two days on Monday (May 30) and Tuesday (May 31). Union bosses have warned that the industrial action could lead to some outages at homes and businesses across England, including the North West.
The strike is taking place as deals over pay and conditions reached a halt. Workers rejected a below inflation pay increase of 2 per cent for 2021 and 4 per cent from July 22. GMB bosses say that, with inflation running at 11.1 per cent, the deal amounts to a ‘massive real terms’ pay cut.
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Cadent reportedly made an operating profit of £901 million in 2021, while CEO Steve Fraser was paid £1.4 million in 2020/21. The company’s Australian owners MacQuarie are currently in plans to buy National Grid’s gas transmission and metering business for an estimated £4.2 billion.
“GMB members have had enough,” Gary Carter, the union’s National Officer, said. “They are determined to stick together and fight for what's right. They deserve better pay. In recent years Cadent has cut the pay of new starters, who can't survive on such low pay. Bosses trumpeting they've raised rates to £10 per hour – but that’s nothing to be proud of. It's poor pay for skilled work.
“Cadent Gas pays its chief executive £1.4 million a year and makes big profits from taxpayers for its Australian owners MacQuarie - It can afford to pay its workers properly. Cadent is out of touch with its workers and out of touch with the cost-of-living crisis. Bosses need to get their heads out of the sand and start
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