National Grid workers protest outside annual meeting in Birmingham

Jul 28 2009 by Rebekah Oruye, Birmingham Mail

DOZENS of workers staged a two-hour protest outside the annual meeting of National Grid in Birmingham after the company announced plans to outsource jobs to India.

Demonstrators gathered outside the venue yesterday, with banners reading “Say No To National Greed”.

The GMB union, which represents part of the workforce, said it was trying to prevent 186 jobs being lost at the energy firm’s site in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

As well as the demonstration, 97 per cent of union members voted to strike in a ballot organised in June.

GMB officials are expected to announce the result of the ballot and the form of industrial action to take place later next month.

National officer Gary Smith said: “People were very positive about the protest as it was an opportunity for them to highlight the company’s hypocrisy. Directors are still earning bonuses and making huge profits, yet they plan to sack workers and offshore their jobs.”

Another demonstration is planned to take place in Newcastle on September 11.