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City Desk - Update BT statement 5:50pm The CWU has failed to reach an agreement with the management at British Telecom making it likely that there will be a strike by BT workers.
Staff at British Telecom are threatening to go on strike following a dispute with the company over pay increases, which could see thousands of homes and businesses left without phones or internet during the proposed strike which could take place in August. Most of the BT staff who are threatening strike action are members of the Communications and Workers Union, the union is angry "at the company's refusal to budge on a 2 per cent pay offer for CWU grades at a time when the company's financial state is rosy and top-level directors are awarding themselves massive bonuses."
The CWU issued a statement today and said:
"Amid general disbelief that the company appears intent on pushing through an effective pay cut for employees at the very same time when directors are rewarding themselves handsomely for the company's turnaround, CWU branch representatives from across the country met in Wimbledon today (Thursday) to discuss the union's response should BT not show an 11th hour willingness to reconsider its position."
"With time running out for that change of heart to occur, rep after rep reported a surge of anger amongst their respective memberships which has been amplified as news of spiralling boardroom remuneration packages has sunk home."
The deadline set by the CWU for a deal is noon today, if an agreement is not met then CWU members will be balloted for strike action, which will take place one month after the vote.
In the last two years British Telecom has cut 35,000 staff to leave a total headcount of 111,900. A BT spokesman said: "BT is keen to resolve the current impasse and so we are willing to meet with the CWU. Industrial action is in no-one's interests and it would be disproportionate given our offer could see the average union member get a package worth around four per cent. This offer is fair, realistic and more generous than those accepted by the union elsewhere.
"As for bonuses, up to thirty thousand staff will benefit this year but that's because their packages are tied to the company's performance and BT has performed well. If the CWU wish to discuss performance-related bonuses for their members we would be delighted to discuss that with them".
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