Unite to ballot workers for strike action at Centrica storage in a
dispute over pay
30 June 2011
Unite, Britain's biggest union, will ballot its members for
industrial action working at Centrica Storage Ltd, based in Hull,
in a dispute over pay.
The dispute affects Unite members working onshore at the
company’s Easington gas terminal and members working on the
company’s Rough Platform in the southern North Sea.
The members are seeking an RPI increase in pay whereas Centrica
so far has offered either 3.25 per cent from 1 April 2011 or 3.9
per cent from 1 July 2011. In a previous consultative ballot, the
membership unanimously rejected the 3.25 per cent offer. They
believe the 3.9 per cent to be a repackaging of the same money but
over a shorter period.
Unite regional officer, Mark Robinson, said: “Over many years,
good and bad, we have always achieved pay rises at or just over the
rate of inflation. Last year, Centrica made billions, it's
completely reasonable to expect the company to offer a pay rise
which maintains its employee's current standard of living."
In 2010 Centrica Storage made over £150 million whilst the
Centrica Group made profits in excess of £2.2 billion.
Mark Robinson added: "In an attempt to reach a settlement we
have even offered to defer part of our inflationary claim until
next year but this has been rejected by Centrica. Our members work
in highly hazardous and isolated environments, after accepting a
below inflation increase last year, they expect Centrica to meet
this reasonable claim."
ENDS
Notes to editors
The dispute affects 90 members. The Rough facility is the
largest in the UK and is able to meet 10 per cent of the UK’s
current peak day demand and represents 70 per cent of the UK’s
storage capacity.
For further Information contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931
315
