Fight BT’s National Pay Deal

Written by CWU member Wednesday, 09 June 2010 08:30

BT has offered workers a 2% pay rise with two one-off payments of £250 – one of which will be at the managers discretion. This pathetic offer is nothing in comparison to BT’s profits which were up 11% in the third quarter of 2009. BT rejected the CWU’s claim of 5% despite the fact that this would only equate to just 1.1% of the companies £5.7 billion projected annual profit. Meanwhile, BT’s profits look set to go up. The recent volcanic ash cloud and its lingering problems for air travel will mean a surge in conference calling – a definite unexpected increase in BT’s profits.
The reality is BT management are using the recession to cut wages but also to attack workers’ terms and conditions. BT’s next ambition will be to “modernise” contractual working hours by imposing a rota covering 7 days a week, 16 hours a day without recompense.

The CWU has agreed to ballot members for action over pay and terms and conditions. However BT rejected the union’s offer at the start of April yet members are only going to receive their ballots after conference at the end of May.

Vote yes for action up to and including strike action but don’t just stop there get organised in the workplace to fight for decent pay, defend and promote terms and conditions.