Commenting on Centrica's plans announced today (Thursday) to cut 5,000 jobs in the UK, UNISON national energy officer Matt Lay said:

"This shock announcement has left employees reeling. Throughout the lockdown staff have been working incredibly hard keeping services running for customers. They're bitterly disappointed and angry too.

"The outlook for the UK's big energy firms is certainly challenging. But simply shedding jobs, refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies and threatening to force the remaining staff on to inferior contacts is not the answer."

Note to editors:

- UNISON is the UK's largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services - in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Media contacts:

Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

Our energy service group supports members facing issues at work and aims to improve pay and conditions. We also campaign on issues which affect the wider community such as fuel poverty, sustainable and renewable supply and environmental safeguards.

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