BT 'disappointed' by 'reckless' new strikes now including 999 services

Some 40,000 telecoms engineers and call-centre staff are now being joined by critical-service workers to go on strike over pay in October

BT has said it will do "whatever it takes" to protect 999 services with its emergency call workers now set to join in on strike action.

Some 40,000 telecoms engineers and call-centre staff are now being joined by critical-service workers to go on strike over pay in October.

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.

The CWU has now served notice on BT for four days of strike action on the 6th, 10th, 20th and 24th of October.

"And we intend to up the ante - so we'll remove all emergency cover and pull out 999 operators," general secretary Andy Kerr said.

BT says the pay rise it offered employees earlier this year represents an increase of around five per cent on average and eight per cent for the lowest paid.

The communications giant has confirmed to the CWU that it will not be re-opening the 2022 pay review "having already made the best award we could".

A spokesperson for BT said it is "profoundly disappointed" that the CWU "is prepared to take this reckless course of action by including 999 services in strikes".

"We will do whatever it takes to protect 999 services - redeploying our people to the most important priority is a normal part of BT Group operations," they said.

"We made the best pay award we could in April and we have held discussions with the CWU to find a way forward from here. In the meantime, we will continue to work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected".