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(Alliance News) - The threat of industrial action by workers at gas giant Centrica PLC has been raised in a row over jobs and pay.
Members of the GMB union are being asked if they want to vote on launching a campaign of action.
The union said its move followed plans to make thousands of staff redundant and make changes to pay and terms and conditions.
The GMB said Centrica, which owns British Gas, described its plans as an "insurance policy" and issued statutory notices which the union says could mean the redundancy process starting at the end of November.
Justin Bowden, GMB national officer, said: "GMB members have lost trust in Centrica and said they want an insurance policy too.
"Centrica has threatened them with British Airways style 'fire and rehire' behaviour and put a gun to their heads at the start of negotiations.
"Centrica's problems were not caused by the loyal engineers, call centre workers and back office staff who have done everything asked of them over years and years of corporate-led decline, but yet again they are being asked to pay a price."
A Centrica spokesperson said: "We understand the impact the proposals have on colleagues, but we need to make changes to win back customers, grow our company and protect jobs in the long run.
"Our employees' base pay and pensions will be protected, but simplifying and modernising their terms is essential if we're to become more flexible and price competitive.
"We have over 80 different employee contracts with 7,000 variations of terms, many of which are outdated and stop us delivering for customers. We are committed to reaching a negotiated settlement with our colleagues which sets us up for future success."
The union is holding a consultative ballot on the question of industrial action.
A further statutory ballot will have to be held for any strike action to go ahead.
source: PA
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