THOUSANDS of Cadent Gas workers, including hundreds in the North West, are to stage a 48 hour strike over pay next week.

Around 2,000 GMB Union members at gas giant Cadent will down tools on Monday, May 30, and Tuesday, May 31, in a dispute over pay and conditions. 

GMB Union say Cadent Gas pays its chief executive £1.4 million a year, and with this in mind it "should be able to afford to pay workers properly".

The industrial action could potentially cause outages at homes and businesses throughout five regions in England; North West, East and West Midlands, East Anglia and North London. 

Workers resoundingly rejected a below inflation pay increase of two per cent for 2021 and four per cent from July 22; inflation is currently running at nine per cent and looks set to get even higher in the coming months.

With inflation running at nine per cent, the deal amounts to a "massive real terms pay cut", the union said.

Cadent made an operating profit of £901 million in 2021, while chief executive Steve Fraser was paid £1.4m in 2020/21. 

The company’s Australian owners MacQuarie are currently heading up a consortium to buy National Grid’s gas transmission and metering business for £4.2 billion. 

Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, said: “GMB members have had enough.

"They are determined to stick together and fight for what's right. They deserve better pay.  

“In recent years Cadent has cut the pay of new starters, who can't survive on such low pay. 

“Bosses trumpeting they've raised rates to £10 per hour – but that’s nothing to be proud of. It's poor pay, for skilled work.  

“Cadent Gas pays its chief executive £1.4m a year and makes big profits from taxpayers for its Australian owners MacQuarie; it can afford to pay its workers properly. 

“Cadent is out of touch with its workers and out of touch with the cost-of-living crisis. 

“Bosses need to get their heads out of the sand and start listening to workers.’