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STRIKING BT workers warned the privatised firm’s major stakeholders today that backing walkouts is “the only thing to do against morale-draining bosses.”
The demand came as 40,000 emergency call handlers, BT call centre workers and Openreach engineers staged their eighth 24-hour strike since the summer in an increasingly bitter dispute over real-terms pay cuts.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU), which represents BT Group staff, urged shareholders and the media to “expose the actions of [chief executive] Philip Jansen, who, despite a £3.5 million pay package, refuses to engage in talks to resolve this dispute.”
Despite making £1.3 billion in profits and handing record payouts to senior executives and shareholders, senior management imposed a flat-rate, below-inflation wage award of just £1,400 in April without workers’ agreement, the CWU noted.
Its members are “incensed by both the hypocrisy of the company [and] latterly their anti-strike propaganda,” said the union, which warned that maintenance and call backlogs nationwide are growing by the day as the industrial action show no signs of abating.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Meeting the shareholders of BT Group is the natural next step. It should demonstrate to the company that we won’t relent until we have exposed them and changed the course of this dispute.
“Alongside these external pressures, BT workers will take further strike action if needed.
“Morale is at an all-time low – we have an out of control, out of touch CEO who is counting his money while his employees are using foodbanks.
“This is just not right and we will not stop fighting until our members gain a proper pay rise.”
Deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said: “Our members are standing strong. They know supporting the union is not only the right thing to do, it’s the only thing to do.
“Despite being impacted by the worst cost-of-living crisis in memory, CWU members are fighting back.
“Strike turnout is rock solid once again and this will remain the case until BT wake up and get back around the negotiating table to settle this dispute.”
Ahead of the latest walkouts, a company spokesperson claimed that the recent salary award was the “best it could make,” saying: “We will continue to work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected.”
