UK's third biggest energy firm Ovo 'set to axe 1,700 jobs'
It's an attempt to cut costs amid the growing industry crisis
Last updated 13th Jan 2022
Unions fear around 1,700 jobs are set to be cut by energy company Ovo.
An announcement is expected from the company later today (13th January).
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."
Hits Radio senior reporter James Diamond was outside Ovo's Bristol headquarters this morning:
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 £5 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."