CWU response to Ofcom recommendation on separation of BT and Openreach

Responding to communications regulator Ofcom’s recommendations for the legal separation of Openreach from BT Group, the Communication Workers Union raises concerns about job security, terms and conditions and pension protection for staff across the group.

Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Ofcom’s recommendations on Openreach today recognise the practical benefits of retaining the division under BT Group ownership. However we are concerned that the legal separation option being proposed will bring significant costs and uncertainties for the pensions of all BT Group employees and will also mean the biggest ever single TUPE of staff – at 32,000 people.

“We believe that the proposals as they stand will incur significant costs, which Ofcom themselves have said they want to avoid and which will detract investment away from the delivery of broadband. We are yet to be convinced that the proposals being made sufficiently protect the jobs, term and conditions of our members in both Openreach and across BT Group.

“CWU will be having further written communication with Ofcom to clarify our concerns and we will take up the offer of further meetings with the regulator to seek assurances on the future of jobs in both Openreach and more widely across BT Group.”

CWU represents 28,000 engineers and support staff in Openreach and is the largest trade union for staff in BT Group.

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For more information please contact:

Sian Jones, press officer, t: 020 8971 7267 m: 07793314249 e: sbjones@cwu.org

Chris Webb, head of communications, engagement and media, m: 07583 725644 e: cwebb@cwu.org