HUNDREDS of British Gas engineers have been left furious after losing their jobs as part of a “fire and rehire” scheme.
The energy company fired around 1,000 workers who install and repair boilers and heating systems on April 1.
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Employees who had refused to sign up to new contracts which forced them to work longer hours and have weekend and bank holiday rates cut were given two weeks to either change their minds or be sacked, the Telegraph reported.
British Gas’s parent company Centrica announced plans to cut jobs and change contracts last summer.
The new contracts mean engineers would have to work an extra three hours a week and would not receive higher rates for working weekends and bank holidays.
Most trade unions and workers accepted the new conditions – although the GMB has led more than 40 days of strikes in opposition to the terms.
Up to 400 employees who did not sign the new contracts by midday today are expected to be fired.
Centrica claimed the changes to the contracts were needed to protect jobs amid a £362million loss last year.
One worker who lost their job slammed the changes to the terms, writing on social media today: “I won’t sign an inferior contract.”
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Another engineer who had worked for the company for 20 years said the only “thanks” he got was a request for his work shoes and van to be returned.
GMB acting secretary Andy Prendergast claimed that thousands of engineers working for British Gas had agreed to the new terms while “under duress”, the Guardian reported.
GMB national secretary Justin Bowden told the Morning Star: “That British Gas doesn’t give a toss for either its customers or staff is evidenced by the mass sacking of the engineers that it badly needs to service these customers.”
British Gas engineers five-day strike in pay and conditions row
