BT managers have voted to take industrial action if a dispute over pay is not resolved.
A spokesman for Connect, the union representing the managers, said its members were unhappy that BT’s latest pay offer ‘would deliver 0% for far too many members’, and that some managers are being paid less than the people they manage.
On the same day that that the telecoms company announced its latest set of
financial results
, unions today said that its members had endorsed industrial action by a margin of four to one, with 5,488 voting in favour of action.
BT claims that the pay offer was 4.3%, and ‘much higher than prevailing market settlements’.
Connect general secretary Adrian Askew added: ‘We urge BT to return to talks and to table a fair offer to avoid the need for industrial action and inconvenience to BT’s customers at this important time for the company.
‘It's time the company, for its own sake, recognises the need to reward its managers and professionals for the invaluable work that they do and for their ongoing flexibility which is so crucial to the company’s success.’
A spokeswoman for BT said: ‘BT can confirm that Connect has served notice of their intention to take industrial action short of strike action but has asked to suspend the action to allow more talks.
‘This is a disappointing and unhelpful development as BT has been working closely with Connect to resolve all remaining issues. BT will continue to seek solutions to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.’