Anglian Water has refused to meet unions GMB, Unite and Unison for talks at a conciliation service over the closure of its defined benefit pension scheme, prompting them to accuse it of provoking industrial action.
More than 1,300 workers at the water company are affected by the scheme's closure. Anglian Water said its replacement defined contribution offering is generous and has the support of staff, but the unions say the contrast with the company's executive pay and dividend policies make the offer a pitiful one.
Members would receive a one-off payment for leaving the DB scheme and a 6 per cent pay rise over two years.
Anglian Water chief executive Peter Simpson allegedly refused to meet unions at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service unless they returned a ballot in favour of a strike vote. GMB has also called for an investigation by the Work and Pensions Committee.
GMB regional officer Michael Ainsley said: "I have written to Frank Field and the Commons pensions select committee asking that they look into this scandal as the company are ignoring the union members’ rejection of their proposals and are imposing the closure of their pensions."
He added: "This is about a transfer of wealth from customers, taxpayers and staff to shareholders and is to my mind as much asset stripping as would be selling off reservoirs, buildings or land."
In response, a spokesperson for Anglian Water said: “There is no reason to go to Acas while the unions refuse to be open about what support there is for their position, if any."
The spokesperson continued: “We simply do not believe the unions have support for their position. They’ve refused to share turnout numbers, and emails canvassing opinion have not even given employees the option to accept the generous deal we’ve put on the table. Their posturing is wholly unrepresentative of people who work at Anglian Water."
