Richard is a member of the Business, Energy and Industry Strategy Select Committee, which today took evidence on the dispute between Centrica and the GMB union.
The union has concerns on behalf of its members about the approach taken by Centrica in seeking to new staff employment terms.
In its work, the Committee examines a wide range of issues such as the role that businesses will play in post-pandemic economic recovery as well as issues such as unemployment, skills, workers’ rights and employment conditions and the gig-economy. This is particularly important as the Government has committed to introducing a new Employment Bill to protect and enhance workers’ rights and promote fairness in the workplace.
Speaking after the meeting, Richard said:
"Today, we took evidence from the Chief Executive of Centrica and the GMB’s National Officer.
This labour dispute, which is ongoing, highlighted the controversial use of “fire and re-hire” processes as companies seek to deal with the impact of COVID and in other circumstances. Constituents have raised their concern about this particular dispute and, last year, about similar steps taken by airlines.
Overall, I am not sure the session helped shed any new light on the subject, other than it has been bitter and that current employment law may have been more of a hindrance than a help.
The session highlighted that the notification on potential jobs at risk was issued early and that it covered a broader range of employees than were likely to have been affected. Concerns were raised at the unnecessary anxieties caused by this approach and questions whether the notification might have been held back until later in the process.
We heard of managers being sent excrement through the post and of the use of terms “scabs”.
The Committee will take further evidence from the legal teams for the union and the company to help us assess if a recommendation on changes to the law might be needed. Hopefully the committee will hold a broader enquiry on the labour market and employment rights in the months ahead."
