BT Faces Summer of Strike Disruption Over BT Pay Inaction
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
26/05/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BT FACES SUMMER OF STRIKE DISRUPTION OVER “INSULTING” PAY INACTION
BT Group faces a “summer of disruption” – and its first national strike in 35 years – as employees hit by the cost-of-living crisis begin balloting to strike against “insulting” pay inaction.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) – which represents telecoms workers – will be serving an industrial action notice to BT Group – which includes BT, Openreach and EE – on Wednesday June 8th.
Ballot papers will then be sent to CWU members on Wednesday June 15th, and it is expected that a result will be announced before the month’s end.
The move comes following last month’s vote at the union’s Bournemouth annual conference, where workers unanimously rejected the imposed pay rise offer of a £1,500 flat rate pay rise.
This was despite the company making £1.3 billion in annual profit, and with inflation rates predicted to rise to over 11% by the end of the year.
CWU Deputy General Secretary Andy Kerr said: “When the cost of everything is skyrocketing, nobody can expect our key worker members to accept such insulting treatment.
“While those at the top are enjoying better profits than even they expected, some of the workers who made that profit for them are having to choose between heating or eating.
“They more than deserve an adequate reward for their contributions, and this is why they will be balloting to take strike action.”
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward added: “This is not about a company that can’t afford to pay employees – this is about management choosing not to give people what they deserve during a time of serious uncertainty.
“These workers were instrumental in keeping this country going during the worst crisis since the Second World War.
“While our members made huge sacrifices, their employers made huge profits.
“If BT Group want to avoid a summer of disruption, they have to start treating their workers with some respect.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact CWU Press Officer Marcus Barnett at mbarnett@cwu.org or 0781259050