Gas worker in the Highlands loses job after refusing to sign new contract
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A British Gas worker who refused to sign a new contract which effectively reduced his pay by 15 per cent has lost his job.
Engineer Daniel Caie (29) from Slackbuie, has been "let go", along with hundreds after a decade of working for the firm.
British Gas had introduced a so-called "fire and re-hire" process in order to alter workers’ contracts, with the approach widely condemned by the GMB union.
Ten months since negotiations began over the proposed new contract, Mr Caie was "let go" as he was unprepared to work under the new terms.
He had worked for British Gas for 10 years, graduating from its two-year apprentice programme and becoming a fully qualified technical engineer in its breakdown and service department.
He said it was "sad" workers were being put in this position, "when its (British Gas) profit was £229 million in the first six months of last year".
He said: "I don’t have a problem with my managers, or even their managers, but when the chief executive of a company comes in and wants to diminish the working terms and conditions of workers, then there is a real problem.
"I had believed I was in a job for life. But we were voiceless, and it was unacceptable to me and many others."
Mr Caie said British Gas started negotiations with the GMB union last summer, leading to strike action and the ultimatum that, if they did not sign the new contracts, they would be out of a job.
"We were made to feel like worker ants, rather than part of one of the best companies in the UK," he said. "No one wants to feel like that. The hours in our contracts were set to be increased to 40 hours from 37 hours.
"We were offered payments to cover the change in contract until 2023, but after that there would be nothing. Other parts of our contract were also being changed.
"It was simply unacceptable to me. It had become a toxic work environment."
A spokesman for the GMB said: "Gas engineers who have refused to be bullied into ‘accepting’ a 15 per cent cut in pay rates and other imposed changes in terms and conditions. "
Asked to comment, a British Gas spokeswoman cited a comment she attributed to an engineer from the north west of England.
He said: "We’ve known about these changes for months now, so it’s not a surprise to anyone and most of us just want to get on with looking after our customers.’"
Mr Caie plans to set up his own business. He can be contacted on caieheating@gmail.com
