GMB Annual Congress 2009 Empress Ballroom Winter Gardens Blackpool
http://www.gmb.org.uk/
PRESS RELEASE
1 of 2 pages
Immediate Release
Attention: News Desk,
Utilities, Industrial and Political Correspondents
GMB MEMBERS FROM NATIONAL GRID
NEWCASTLE MEET GORDON BROWN PRIME MINISTER AT GMB CONGRESS IN
BLACKPOOL
Prime Minister says he will
look into the situation at National Grid
GMB members Ralph Tuart and Jill
Black, whose jobs at National Grid in Newcastle are under treat
from the company's proposal to off-shore their work to India met
Gordon Brown the Prime Minister today when he addressed GMB
Congress in Blackpool.
GMB members at National Grid Newcastle
will take part in an official strike ballot in a bid to stop 181
jobs being out sourced to India. The congress was told that 97% of
these staff have already voted to take action in a consultative
ballot organised by the Union last week.
Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary
speaking from Blackpool after the meeting said, "The Prime
Minister listened to Ralph and Jill and said he would look into the
situation at National Grid."
Ends
Contact: Gary Smith,
GMB National Secretary on 07710 618909 or Joan Anderson, GMB
Organiser on 07870 176732 or GMB Press Office: Steve Pryle on 07921
289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 258123.
Notes to Editors:
This is the text of the Emergency Motion to be debated today
(Monday 15th June) at the GMB Congress in Blackpool.
National Grid
Greed
Congress notes with dismay the
announcement made at a meeting with GMB shop stewards on Friday
5th June 2009 of impending redundancies at national
grid's Newcastle site. congress further notes that national grid's
plans to close this site would destroy 181 local jobs in its shared
services function in Newcastle, and that the company have
consistently failed to rule out off-shoring work currently carried
out in Newcastle to low wage economies such as India.
Congress believes this site
closure is nothing but an act of irresponsible corporate greed,
made possible by ofgem's failed and discredited regulatory regime.
Congress notes that National Grid recently announced massive global
profits of £2,915 million in the year ending 31st march
2009, a 12% increase on the previous year. Notwithstanding these
huge profits, staff and unions at Newcastle have been working with
the company to identify further cost savings of £3m. Yet despite
this, the company plans to sack these workers and offshore their
jobs.
Congress condemns national grid's
actions in the strongest possible terms. it pledges full support to
the workers in the fight to save their jobs, and calls upon the
company to abandon this unnecessary and unjustified
closure.
Congress calls for the CEC to
instigate a national campaign of opposition to National Grid, by
mounting local opposition to any planning applications submitted by
the company throughout the UK.
Congress also recognises that
National Grid is set to benefit financially from the huge
investment required in the UK's energy infrastructure, and
therefore calls upon government ministers to intervene and support
GMB members who are the victims of the company's corporate greed
by:
- exerting the maximum possible pressure on National Grid to
exercise some loyalty and commitment towards the Newcastle
workforce that has helped it to become a successful and highly
profitable business.
- changing the rules by which Ofgem operates to ensure that
in considering future funding rounds, socio-economic considerations
are taken into account, such as the need to ensure companies retain
skilled UK jobs.
Transco 1 Branch, GMB
Northern Region
2 Please will any media wishing to
attend GMB Congress please register with
charlotte.gregory@gmb.or.uk or 020 8947 3131.
3 GMB Congress photographs will be
available from GMB official photographer Andrew Wiard on 07973
219201 or andrew@reportphotos.com.
4 Watch Live GMB TV at
www.gmb.org.uk
