Around 40,000 BT and Openreach workers are striking for the first time in 35 years. The BT Group workers have today (July 29) started a two-day national strike in response to ‘real-term pay cuts’ that union bosses say have left some employees struggling during the cost of living crisis and having to rely on food banks.
The 24-hour strike - which will continue on Monday - comes in the wake of the company’s latest quarterly results which found BT Group had made a £400m profit in the first quarter, on top of the £1.3bn achieved in the last financial year.
CEO Philip Jansen was also awarded a 32pc pay rise. READ MORE: Pilots' union slams Jet2 for 'refusing to recognise concerns about fatigue and stress' The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said employees have been offered a ‘far-below-inflation’ flat rate pay settlement of £1,500pa - which they describe as a ‘dramatic real-terms pay cut’ in relation to current inflation levels.
Ian Tomlinson, Branch Secretary at CWU Manchester, said around 40 workers have been picketing today outside Dial House on Chapel Street in Salford.
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