Thousands
of BT engineers are to vote on whether to strike in a dispute over a
productivity scheme.
Around
13,000 members of the Communication Workers Union are being urged to back
industrial action in protest at the recent introduction of the initiative, according
to online news service Ananova.
The
union describes the bonus scheme as a "trap" that will only provide
average payments.
"When
people are up to the required levels, they can change the thresholds," the
union said in a message to its members.
BT
says 6,000 engineers have signed up to the scheme – 44 per cent of those
eligible to take part.
A
BT spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that the CWU has chosen to go
down this route. BT has on a number of occasions invited the union to discuss
their concerns, but to date they have refused to meet us."
The
company says the bonus scheme is voluntary. The result of the ballot will be
known later this month.