Union members at Brightmere Energy have rejected the company's pay offer in an indicative ballot, increasing pressure for further talks over this year's award. ECSU said 79% of those voting had rejected the offer, on a turnout of 58%. The ballot closed on 22 August.
The Energy and Customer Services Union represents colleagues in Brightmere's bargaining grades, including customer advisers. Regional officer Maxine Doyle said the figures showed that negotiators had not yet secured an offer members considered acceptable. She said the union would return to discussions with the company rather than treat the result as the end of the process.
‘Members have been clear about the offer in front of them,’ Doyle said. ‘The next task is to get an agreement that they can support. People are looking at their rent, food and travel costs, but they are also looking at the work they do and the experience they bring to the company.’
The indicative vote is not a statutory ballot authorising industrial action. No strike dates have been announced. Doyle said members should not read speculation about possible next steps as a decision already taken. Any further proposal would be communicated through the union's own arrangements.
A Brightmere spokesperson said the company recognised the strength of feeling and was continuing constructive discussions. ‘We want to reach an agreement that recognises colleagues' contribution and supports the long-term health of the business,’ the spokesperson said. Brightmere did not announce an improved offer when asked for comment on the result.
The supplier operates its largest contact centre at Filton, as well as a Swansea centre and home-based adviser teams. The bargaining relationship with ECSU dates back to 2014. Staff interviewed outside work said the dispute was being discussed across different teams, although their reasons for voting were not identical.
One Filton adviser said the annual award mattered because regular household bills left little room for an unexpected cost. Another employee said they wanted an agreement reached quickly so attention could return to learning the new customer-service tools due to arrive later this year. Both asked not to be named.
Doyle said technology questions would not disappear when pay negotiations ended. She said the union would continue seeking information about changes to work as a separate matter. Brightmere has said its new tools are intended to help colleagues and that efficiencies will come through natural changes in the team rather than redundancies.
For the immediate pay talks, the published ballot figures are the clearest indication of members' response so far. Neither party has announced a timetable for a settlement. Advisers spoken to by the Courier said they were waiting for the next message from their representatives before drawing conclusions about what would happen next.