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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent & Philip Norris

Fears for 1,700 jobs at Ovo as energy firm prepares to make statement

Unions fear energy firm Ovo is to cut around 1,700 jobs.

The company, which caused controversy this week with 'cuddle your pet to keep warm advice, is expected to make an announcement today (Thursday, January 13)

The Unite union said it warned in 2020 that Ovo was taking a risk when it took over the retail base of energy giant SSE.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “We will do everything in our power to defend our members’ jobs.

“All and every option will be on the table. As a first step the company must now open the books to union experts.

“We will not sit by and watch our members being made to pay the price of the pandemic.”

The company had to apologise earlier this week after an email was sent out to customers, advising them to keep their heating bills low by “having a cuddle with your pets” or eating bowls of porridge.

Unite national officer for energy Simon Coop said: “We warned the directors about blundering into the SSE takeover.

“In recent years the same directors have plundered the accounts for amounts estimated to be touching £6 million.

“Ovo must be subject to severe scrutiny before the union decides on our next moves, but if they move to compulsory redundancies they will be fully opposed by the union.”

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