Business telecoms could be affected by a BT strike

27/05/2010

Business telecoms customers could be affected if BT workers decide to strike for the first time in 23 years.

BT offered its employees a below-inflation pay rise for the workers whose pay was frozen last year.

The two per cent raise offer was called "insulting" by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which also said the firm treated staff like "a second thought".

CWU has said BT has until June 4th to increase the pay rise. If the strike were to take place, it would affect business telecoms customers who use their telephone and broadband services.

The union was even more outraged by the offer because it found out that BT's chief executive, Ian Livingston, received a £1.2 million bonus on top of a six per cent pay increase.

"Our final offer is fair, realistic and more generous than those they have accepted elsewhere. This offer could see their lowest-paid members receive up to 5.4 per cent in pay and bonuses with some thousands of staff also enjoying a second pay rise in October," said a BT spokesperson.

Both parties said that the deal could be re-negotiated before the CWU's deadline next week.

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, including business telecoms, household telecoms and broadband, that operates in more than 170 countries around the globe.

Posted by Dan Morris