BT emergency-call handlers set to join strike action in UK

The UK’s Communications Workers Union (CWU) has upped the ante in its pay dispute with BT management.

In previous summer strike action over what CWU saw as an inadequate flat-rate pay deal of £1,500 (US$1695) – which, according to the union, was pretty much presented as a fait accompli to its BT frontline worker members back in April with no room for proper negotiation – those handling incoming calls for emergency services were excluded from downing tools. Not anymore.

CWU says it expects some 400 ‘999’ call center staff to join strike action slated for four days in October (6,10,20,24). As with the summer strikes, around 30,000 Openreach engineers and 10,000 BT call center workers are planning to walk out on those days.

A BT spokesperson, in a statement, said CWU’s willingness to extend the strike to ‘999’ call center workers was a “reckless course of action” and that BT was “profoundly disappointed” with CWU.

More diplomatically, the spokesperson added that “we respect the right of colleagues to strike.”

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