A union representing BT Group workers has accused company chiefs of “corporate arrogance”.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in the region staged another strike on Monday in their pursuit of a better pay deal.
The walkout followed a day of action last Thursday and more are planned.
CWU Deputy General Secretary Andy Kerr is calling on company bosses to initiate talks over a better deal for workers.
He said: “Time and time again, we have asked for negotiations to resolve what may well be a dangerous dispute for many, only to be ignored.
“But BT Group workers are sick of this corporate arrogance and they are determined and united.
“They will fight hard to get the proper pay rise – and the dignity – that they deserve.”
He accused BT Group chief executive Philip Jansen of “running from his responsibilities” as 999 handlers joined other BT call centre workers and Openreach engineers on strike yesterday.
They have more industrial action planned for next Thursday, October 20, and Monday, October 24, involving up to 40,000 staff nationwide.
The dispute centres on workers opposing the imposition of a flat-rate pay rise of £1,500 for
all employees.
The union contends that it is a dramatic real-terms pay cut in the context of RPI inflation levels hitting 12 per cent this year.
The CWU has also pointed out that BT made £1.3 billion in annual profit with Mr Jansen gaining a £3.5 million pay package – a 32 per cent increase.
The striking workers look after much of Britain’s telecoms infrastructure, from mobile phone connection, broadband internet and back-up generators to NHS
systems, cyber security
and data centres.
More than 500 of them also handle 999 emergency calls at call centres across the country.
In previous strikes, BT and the CWU agreed they would be strike-exempt but they walked out for the first time last Thursday.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “These are highly dedicated people who do some of the most important work in our society – why are they so poorly paid?
“A company that made more than £1 billion in profit – and a boss who gave himself a 32 per cent pay rise - should not be ignoring them.
“BT management need to realise they can’t keep on hiding from crisis
forever.
“When they decide to get round the table and negotiate a fair and dignified pay deal to end this dispute, the CWU will be waiting.”
A BT spokesman has described the inclusion of emergency call workers in the strike as a “reckless course of action”.
“In the meantime, we will continue to work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected.”
