BT could be facing strike action amongst its staff which could cause communication problems for businesses and home users around the country if the action goes ahead. Last week, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) advised that they would ballot their 55,000 members over strike action following only a 2% pay increase proposal for 'blue-collar' staff when the Chief Executive saw his remuneration rise by 79% in 2009-10.
The strike by BT engineers and staff in call centres would be the first national strike at the company since 1987. In an effort to keep phones ringing and data flowing, BT today tabled a new offer of a 2% pay rise this year with a 3% pay rise promised for next year. BT would also commit to not making any compulsory redundancies over the next two years, and increasing UK job opportunities by decreasing its reliance on overseas call centres.
The CWU were pushing for a 5% pay increase but as yet have not commented in detail on the new offer which it said it was studying.
"This offer is an attempt to break the current impasse with the CWU. We hope that they will consider it seriously and respond positively. Industrial action is in no one's interests."
BT Statement
So BT is now 1 company? not the RETAIL/OPENREACH/WHOLESALE? I agree they should not be using overseas call center's. the customer doesn't want to have to keep explaining their problems, in a bid to get the operative to understand them,