Around 40,000 BT and Openreach workers are striking for the first time in 35 years.
The BT Group workers have today (July 29) started a two-day national strike in response to ‘real-term pay cuts’ that union bosses say have left some employees struggling during the cost of living crisis and having to rely on food banks.
The 24-hour strike - which will continue on Monday - comes in the wake of the company’s latest quarterly results which found BT Group had made a £400m profit in the first quarter, on top of the £1.3bn achieved in the last financial year. CEO Philip Jansen was also awarded a 32pc pay rise.
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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said employees have been offered a ‘far-below-inflation’ flat rate pay settlement of £1,500pa - which they describe as a ‘dramatic real-terms pay cut’ in relation to current inflation levels.
Ian Tomlinson, Branch Secretary at CWU Manchester, said around 40 workers have been picketing today outside Dial House on Chapel Street in Salford. Other picket lines are in place at Washway Road in Sale, Crossley Street in Gorton, Dorning Street in Wigan, Middleton Road in Cheetham Hill and at Trafford Park.
“In the pandemic, we weren’t just key workers, we were critical workers,” Ian told the M.E.N at the picket line. “We were told we must work because the UK infrastructure couldn’t be allowed to disintegrate. People were under pressure to help ensure people could work from home during the lockdown, but we did it. We were promised a pay award to match our hard work and it turned out to be an enforced £1,500 that we had no say over.
“That pay award was never put to the staff. Every year in the past, we’ve always been able to negotiate with pay and this is the first year where it wasn't discussed with us prior. This is all while BT makes £1.3 billion worth of profit.
“I really don’t mind what they do with the money as long as they pay us well. We just want a small piece of that pie for doing our part, and we think that's fair.”
Ian said local councillors and MPs, including Rebecca Long-Bailey and Salford’s Mayor Paul Dennett, have been in attendance at Salford’s picket line to show their support.
Mrs Long-Bailey, Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, tweeted earlier today: "Solidarity all BT staff on strike today. You deserve fair pay. Great to visit Salford picket line this morning with @salford_mayor @SalfordLabour and to see so much support from local residents and workers."
Branch secretary Mr Tomlinson added: “The feeling is good here. We’ve been stopped by members of the public who have been unaware of the situation and the massive pay rise of the CEO.
“BT are really going to have to change their position because the damage to the brand and the image of their workforce has been proportionate. It has caused a lot of distress to our members.”
Earlier today, CWC general secretary Dave Ward appeared on television to discuss the strike action where he lambasted the company’s ‘brass-necked’ senior management culture and suggested the government needed to intervene.
Speaking on Sky News, Mr Ward said: “Yesterday these guys announced a £400 million first quarter profit on top of the recently announced £1.3 billion – and that that they are again going to put prices up which will amount to a 23% price increase for customers in 12 months.
“I don’t think anyone could accept that as reasonable – and I’d urge the Government to launch an inquiry into the way BT management is running this company.”
BT said that it had been in ‘exhaustive discussions’ with the union over pay and described its £1,500 offer as the company’s ‘highest pay award in more than 20 years’ for workers.
A BT spokesperson said: “At the start of this year, we were in exhaustive discussions with the CWU that lasted for two months, trying hard to reach an agreement on pay. When it became clear that we were not going to reach an accord, we took the decision to go ahead with awarding our team member and frontline colleagues the highest pay award in more than 20 years, effective 1 April."
The spokesperson added: "We have confirmed to the CWU that we won't be reopening the 2022 pay review, having already made the best award we could. While we respect the choice of our colleagues who are CWU members to strike, we will work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected."
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