(Alliance News) - Centrica PLC's British Gas engineers staged their 38th strike on Monday ahead of a crucial few weeks in the dispute over pay and conditions.
The GMB union said its members have until Thursday to agree new contracts before another wave of four day strikes starts on Friday.
The union said that on Monday next week British Gas will give up to 12 weeks' formal notice of termination for staff who have not accepted the changes.
Staff who do not accept the new contracts will be sacked on April 1, with pay in lieu of up to 12 weeks' notice, said the GMB.
National officer Justin Bowden called on British Gas to pull back from the April 1 "cliff edge".
A British Gas spokesman said: "We must change to protect 20,000 UK jobs.
"We have a responsibility to reverse our decline which has seen us lose over three million customers, cut over 15,000 jobs and seen profits halved over the last 10 years.
"There is a job for everyone at the end of this difficult process and our new terms are fair and very competitive.
"Base pay and pensions have been protected from the outset and we have made sure colleagues have the information they need to make a choice."
By Alan Jones
source: PA
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