PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Support for British Gas workers (25 January 2021)

That this House condemns the actions of British Gas in pursuing fire and re-hire tactics with loyal and hard-working staff; expresses support and solidarity with British Gas workers who have been forced to strike following British Gas pushing ahead with plans that have been rejected by 86 per cent of GMB members working as engineers; notes that the proposed changes will mean that a number of workers will be expected to work approximately 150 hours extra per year for no guarantee of extra pay; expresses regret that a once respected and trusted brand is doing damage to its reputation by pursuing fire and re-hire tactics; urges British Gas to recognise that the only way to end the disruption is to take fire and rehire pay cuts off the table; notes with alarm the growing number of employers who are making employees redundant before re-employing them on less-favourable terms and conditions; believes that these employers should instead be focused on supporting their employees through the covid-19 outbreak; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to stop the growing number of firms taking part in this unethical and unjust practice, for example by amending the Employment Rights Act 1996 to automatically categorise such redundancies as unfair dismissals.

Sponsored by:
Nadia Whittome (Labour)