Customer service to BT's business clients is likely to
be hit as just under 14,000 BT managers vote on industrial action
over pay, the Connect union said today (Thursday).
The company, the largest network service provider for central
government in the UK, provides networked IT and communications
services to companies including Virgin Media.
Connect announced the planned
industrial action as BT published its annual financial results.
Industrial action is likely to start on or before 27 May unless an
agreement can be reached.
The union said that "regrettably" customer service from
BT would suffer if industrial action goes ahead. Managers will
refuse to work beyond their contracted hours, making it difficult
for clients to contact them.
James Allen, campaigns manager at Connect, said, "Our members
work substantially more than their contracted hours, and we know
that clients rely heavily on that at the moment. It's likely that
BT's customer service will be hit by the action. This is
regrettable and not what we wanted, but we need a better pay offer
from BT."
BT called the decision to strike "disappointing and unhelpful."
It said its 4.3% pay offer is higher than prevailing market
settlements.
Connect said it was unhappy with the distribution of pay, and
the fact that some managers get paid less than the people they
manage and that the offer makes no move towards solving BT's gender
pay gap.
A BT spokesman 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."