New strike for BT and Openreach staff amid pay dispute

Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU), including 999 call handlers, are to walk off the job for 24 hours following a wave of walkouts in recent weeks.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said his members remained determined to continue the action, adding: “We will never walk away from this.”

The union said BT’s “imposed” £1,500 pay rise is worth between 5% and less than 3%, well below “spiraling” inflation.

The first national strikes at BT Group in three-and-a-half decades took place on July 29 and August 1, with two more at the end of August, followed by three more this month before Monday’s action.

CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said: “When 999 callers are on strike, you know something is very wrong in this country.

“Time and again we have asked for talks to resolve the dangerous dispute, but they have been ignored.

“But BT Group employees are fed up with this corporate arrogance, and they are determined and united.”

“They will fight hard to get the pay rise they deserve and the dignity they deserve.”

A BT Group spokesman said: “We will do everything we can to protect 999 services, redeploying our people to the most important priority is a normal part of BT Group’s operations.

“In April we made the best salary we could and held discussions with the CWU to find a way forward.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work to minimize any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected.”

CWU representatives will meet major BT shareholders on Monday to warn that backing the strikes is “the only thing to do”.

The union said the backlog of maintenance and calls across the UK was growing by the day as the strike intensified.

Dave Ward said: “A meeting with BT Group’s shareholders is a natural next step – it should demonstrate to the company that we will not budge until we expose them and change the course of this dispute.

“Along with this external pressure, BT employees will continue to strike if necessary.

“Morale is at an all-time low – we have an out-of-control, out-of-control manager counting his money and his staff using food banks.

“This is simply wrong and we will not stop fighting until our members receive the pay rise they deserve.”

Andy Kerr said: “Our members are standing firm – they know that supporting the union is not only the right thing to do, it’s the only thing.

“Despite being hit by the worst of the cost of living crisis, CWU members are fighting back.

“Monday’s strike turnout will be solid again and will remain so until BT wakes up and comes to the negotiating table to resolve this dispute.”