BT pay deal averts strike action

BT and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have reached a 39-month deal on staff pay, averting the threat of strike action.
 
The agreement will see team members of the telecoms company receive pay rises worth 3% each financial year from April 2010 to March 2013 with the rise backdated to January 2010.
 
The union, which represents more than 55,000 BT employees, had previously demanded a 5% rise for 2010/11 alone, while BT had offered a 2% pay rise from April 2010 and a 3% rise from January 2011.
 
BT said the deal was “unprecedented” and was good news for the company, its employees, shareholders and customers. The CWU said the deal was “fantastic” for its members.
 
Prior to the pay deal, the CWU said it was angry that front-line staff were offered a 2% pay award while BT chief executive Ian Livingston received a £1.2m bonus payment, and was offered a £50,000 pay rise to £900,000.
 
The CWU will hold a consultative ballot of members recommending that they endorse the deal in the coming weeks.