BT employees have voted to strike after rejecting what the Communication Workers Union (CWU) described as a “weak, insulting” pay offer that fails to protect staff from the effects of high inflation.
Earlier this year BT proposed a flat pay increase of £1,500. With RPI inflation reaching 11.7%, the union and many employees say that amount represents a significant real-terms pay cut for workers facing rising living costs.
The CWU, which represents BT Group employees, voted overwhelmingly—95.8%—in favor of strike action. Call centre staff will join around 30,000 Openreach engineers in the planned industrial action.
“Our members were never going to accept imposition. BT Group thought they could get away with bullying treatment – they were wrong,” said Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU.
The union highlighted the essential service BT staff provided throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping people connected when it mattered most. Despite this, members were offered a pay rise that falls short of inflationary pressures.
“The reward for our members? The imposition of a below-inflation increase,” Ward added. “Our members, and working people in general, have had enough. We will not accept seeing workers use food banks while executives use Swiss banks.”
“This situation is unjust, but it’s also untenable—people will not work harder and harder for less and less forever,” he continued, stressing the long-term unsustainability of pay stagnation amid rising costs.
The dispute at BT mirrors a wider trend across the UK, where workers in multiple sectors are taking industrial action in response to pay offers that do not keep pace with inflation. Many employees report they have not received any meaningful pay increase to offset the growing cost of living.
“This vote has shown the power of our members, who will not simply accept such a dramatic deterioration of their living conditions,” said Andy Kerr, Deputy General Secretary of the CWU. He emphasized that members seek a pay settlement that restores fairness, dignity, and respect.
“Our members deserve respect and dignity. That means a proper pay rise – and they are going to get it,” Kerr added, underscoring the union’s commitment to negotiating a better deal for staff.
(Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash)
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