BT strikes set to go ahead as dispute continues

The Communication Workers Union is demanding BT provide a better pay increase

Tens of thousands of BT workers are preparing to go on strike tomorrow over pay.

A 24-hour strike is also planned again on 1 August and is expected to see around 40,000 of the telecom giant's employees, mostly engineers, down tools amid a dispute over pay.

BT gave its employees a £1,500 pay increase earlier this year but The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is arguing that it is effectively a pay cut when taking into account inflation.

It served the company with notice of its intention to strike earlier this month and an agreement is yet to be reached, meaning there is likely to be severe disruption to those who depend on the company's services and infrastructure.

"BT workers have hundreds of picket lines arranged across the UK tomorrow and will support the CWU in delivering mass strike action," CWU general secretary Dave Ward said.

"Our members kept the country connected during the pandemic. They deserve a proper pay rise, and that's what they're going to get.

"Our members don't want to take strike action, but neither are they going to accept the imposition of a real-terms pay cut while the company made £1.3bn in profit, shareholders gained £750m, and the CEO pocketed a 32 per cent pay rise - taking him to £3.5m."

In response, BT said: "BT Group awarded a fully consolidated pay increase to its Team Member and frontline colleagues of £1,500.

"This represents a pay rise of around five per cent on average and eight per cent for the lowest paid and it was effective from 1 April 2022. This is the highest pay award BT Group has made in over 20 years."