BT awards tens of thousands of staff £1,500 as strikes end

BT workers striking outside BT Tower in London in July. BT said the pay deal had been brokered with the support of the CWU, which represents about 40,000 of employees. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire Service/Rex/Shutterstock

BT has awarded tens of thousands of staff hit hardest by the cost of living crisis a £1,500 pay rise, bringing to an end a protracted and bitter dispute and the first national strike action in 35 years.

The telecoms company, which earlier this month said it would table a new pay deal to the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) after freeing up cash thanks to a government energy subsidy for businesses, is to give all staff earning £50,000 or less a year the permanent rise – a total of about 71,000 employees.