BT boss “hiding from crisis” as new 999 call handlers strike looms
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
09/10/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BT GROUP BOSS “HIDING FROM CRISIS” AS 999 DISRUPTION SET TO CONTINUE TOMORROW
BT Group CEO Philip Jansen has been accused of “running from his responsibilities” as 999 handlers employed by him will join other BT call centre workers and Openreach engineers on strike tomorrow (Monday 10th October) against poverty pay.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) – which represents BT Group workers – have drawn attention to Jansen’s lack of presence in the media to justify his refusal to negotiate a proper pay deal with workers who turned billions in profit for the company.
This refusal has led to 30,000 Openreach engineers and 10,000 BT call centre workers taking strike action across summer, putting a wide array of national infrastructure at risk.
In August, Jansen’s absence caught the attention of Labour Party Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who regarded his conduct as “highly unusual” and “deeply damaging … to the interests of the country as a whole” in a letter to him.
The dispute centres on workers opposing the imposition by company management of an incredibly low flat-rate pay rise.
Earlier this year, BT offered and implemented a £1,500 per year pay increase for employees.
In the context of RPI inflation levels already hitting 12% this year, this is a dramatic real-terms pay cut for workers who were considered vital during the pandemic.
It is also in the wider context of BT making £1.3 billion in annual profit, with CEO Philip Jansen gaining a £3.5 million pay package – a 32% wage increase – while the Big Issue and the BBC have reported instances of BT Group offices establishing food banks to assist employees.
The striking workers look after much of Britain’s telecoms infrastructure, from mobile phone connection, broadband internet and back-up generators to NHS systems, cyber security and data centres.
Over 500 of them also handle 999 emergency calls at call centres across the country.
In previous strikes, BT and the CWU agreed they would be strike-exempt, but they walked out for the first time last Thursday (6th October) due to Jansen’s continued refusal to negotiate.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Monday will see another day of needless disruption because a boss is happy to wreck workers’ livelihoods and run away from his responsibilities.
“Philip Jansen won’t justify his decision to put workers into serious hardship because he can’t.
“The result of this is 999 emergency call handlers coming out on strike for the first time ever.
“These are highly dedicated people who do some of the most important work in our society – why are they so poorly paid?
“A company that made more than £1 billion in profit – and a boss who gave himself a 32% pay rise – should not be ignoring them.
“BT management need to realise they can’t keep on hiding from crisis forever.
“When they decide to get round the table and negotiate a fair and dignified pay deal to end this dispute, the CWU will be waiting.”
CWU Deputy General Secretary Andy Kerr said: “Up and down the country, BT workers are asking: ‘where’s Philip Jansen?’
“It’s unacceptable that someone like him can evade any scrutiny on his decisions when they result in 999 calls getting left unmanned and national infrastructure at risk.
“In any other walk of life, he’d have been gone a long time ago.
“Time and time again, we have asked for negotiations to resolve what may well be a dangerous dispute for many, only to be ignored.
“But BT Group workers are sick of this corporate arrogance, and they are determined and united.
“They will fight hard to get the proper pay rise – and the dignity – that they deserve.”
ENDS
For more information or media requests, please contact CWU Press Officer Marcus Barnett on mbarnett@cwu.org or 07812 590450.