BT reaches deal with workers

Communications giant BT has reached a deal with its workers that will enable it to avoid the strike action that would otherwise have adversely affected internet users.

There have been concerns over recent months over threats of strike action by employees of the communications giant BT over disputes about pay. The concerns were over how this would affect not only phone customers of the company but also broadband customers that were with BT or with another provider that used the BT network.

It has now been reported that this strike action, which could have had a profound effect on many broadband users, has been averted as a result of BT reaching a thirty nine month deal with the Communication Workers Union. This comes after the union and BT had been battling it out for months over pay for workers, but the deal that has been struck will last until March 2013.

Under the terms of the agreement more than fifty thousand BT employees will receive pensionable pay rises of three percent each financial year up until the agreement comes to an end in 2013. This includes call centre staff as well as engineers. For 2010/2011 the Communication Workers Union has called for a pay rise of five percent.

BT chief executive Ian Livingston said: “This agreement is good for BT, its employees, shareholders and customers. BT will benefit from a long period of certainty, whilst our employees will have financial stability during uncertain economic times. I am pleased that we have been able to work with the union’s leadership to resolve this matter, as industrial action would have been in no-one’s interest.”

Source – IT News