Unison Cymru/Wales Gas Branch


		Cymru/Wales Gas Branch

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About UNISON

The gas insdustry

UNISON’s support for people working in the gas industry has its roots in the old British Gas, but our members are now spread across different companies.

We deal mainly with Centrica (British Gas Energy and British Gas Services), Wales & West Utilities and Accuread. As a result of de-merger, outsourcing and sell-offs Unison also has members in companies such as National Grid/Transco, Advantica, First Connect and other Group functions, Scotia Gas, ICL, Amdahl, Chestertons, Yorkshire Electricity and GPU.

Since these companies have diversified into providing services such as electricity, water trading and telecommunications, our members are employed in much more than gas. We cover all grades of staff from basic clerical to senior management except for manual and industrial workers.

Many of UNISON's members work in call centres where our members act, for example, as customer service representatives, team leaders and call centre managers. Other members work in billing and data processing, finance, payroll, human resources, facilities management, procurement and logistics, meter reading, debt collection, IS (Inspection Services), administration, network management and systems control. Many members need professional qualifications to carry out their jobs and we support a large number of qualified engineers.

We negotiate for better pay and conditions, help individuals in trouble and campaign for a safer, fairer society.

Your rights at work

You have a right to:

•a written statement from your employer setting out your terms and conditions

•an itemised payslip

•paid annual leave

•sick pay

•work in a safe working environment

•maternity leave, pay and time off for ante natal care, etc. or parental leave (includes adoption leave)

•flexible working

•equal pay for men and women

•rights for young workers

•minimum periods of notice before an employer can terminate your employment

•a redundancy payment

•to be paid at least the national minimum wage

•to be accompanied by a trade union official or a co-worker to grievance or disciplinary hearings at work

You have rights not to:

•have your wages stopped or part of your wages deducted

•have your contract changed by your employer without agreement (even if your employer sells his or her business to a new employer)

•work more than 48 hours a week

•be discriminated against on the grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, religion or belief, trade union activities or because you work part-time

•be unfairly dismissed

This is a summary and not a full statement of the law. Some of these rights are automatic, and others will depend on how long you have worked for your employer. For more details, go to www.unison.org.uk.

It is important that you contact your local UNISON steward as soon as possible because legal rights often have time limits.