Ofgem workers to strike across energy price cap day

The dispute in Ofgem is about pay, jobs, working conditions and the way decisions about these are made. Whilst progress has been made on a couple of the issues, Ofgem is refusing to reach key agreements on the other matters.

In an industrial action ballot in June, members voted by a resounding 85% for strike action on a 65% turnout. Since then we have attempted to resolve the dispute through negotiation. Our negotiators have listened to Ofgem’s views about our initial proposals and have offered new alternatives which constructively respond to those views.

Unfortunately, Ofgem has not taken the same approach, which has led to the negotiations stalling. Therefore we are calling on Ofgem members in Glasgow, Cardiff and London to take strike action on 26, 27 and 28 August, which includes “price cap day”.

The price cap is one of Ofgem’s key functions. Ofgem sets the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge as standing charges and for each unit of energy. “Price cap day” is when the energy regulator announces the energy price cap for the following three months.

The next “price cap day” is due on 27 August when PCS will be on strike. This is not a coincidence: Ofgem’s failure to address pay is one of the key reasons for the dispute and rises to the price cap are as worrying to Ofgem’s employees as to everyone else.

Pay bands within Ofgem are 10-20% below those of the department responsible for it (DESNZ) and Ofgem’s lowest paid workers earn 20% below the median wage for the country as a whole. They are in the bottom 20% of all earners.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members in Ofgem want the pay, job security and fair treatment that workers get elsewhere.

“It’s high time Ofgem gets serious and resolves this dispute because there are fair compromises on the table.

"Otherwise our members will be on picket lines as the employer prepares for one of its most important announcements of the year. This should be a wake-up call.”