Energy utility workers in strike threat

Dozens of employees who bear the huge responsibility of distributing electricity through a large part of northern England have threatened to go on strike over pay.

The employees who work in the maintenance department of YEDL and NEDL energy utilities have said that in three days they won’t avail themselves for working beyond the prescribed working hours and that they won’t cover standby.

The trade union with which the energy utility workers are unionised with, Union Unite, revealed that discussions have been ongoing since February. Union Unite represents approximately seven hundred employees of YEDL and NEDL.
CE Electric which is the parent firm of the electricity suppliers in question disclosed that cover would be in place at the time the employees would be striking.

Kevan Parker, the union negotiator revealed that the pay talks had nothing to do with the rising costs of energy. The union negotiator said that tabled a claim of eight per cent and they also wanted some pay anomalies rectified to ensure that the employees of the electricity suppliers in question received the same remuneration as those of other energy utilities.

CE Electric however stated that the action the employees were taking was not a strike action and that CE electric had already organised for alternative manpower to make sure that its customers were not inconvenienced in any way during the time the employees in question would be downing their tools. He further explained that this would involve shift and the increased hiring of contracted labour which they still use in ordinary business circumstances.

www.ceelectricuk.com