2022 BT Group strikes

The 2022 BT Group strikes were an industrial dispute between the telecommunications provider BT and members of the Communication Workers Union over pay amongst the backdrop of the UK cost of living crisis. The strike action was taken by CWU members working for BT group's communications infrastructure subsidiary Openreach alongside those employed at the company's call centres.

2021–present United Kingdom
cost-of-living crisis
A foodbank donation point in Sainsbury's, Slough, in June 2022
Background
Industrial action

Overview

In April 2022, members of the Communication Workers Union rejected pay offers made by BT Group as part of its 2022 pay review which awarded a £1,500 increase in fully consolidated pay to its team members and frontline staff. The decision taken at the CWU's Telecoms and Financial Services conference was made on the basis that the offer failed to "adequately reward the contribution made by CWU members keeping the country connected throughout the pandemic" and that it was "not acceptable in the face of increased inflation ... and the cost of living crisis". The conference resolved to hold a ballot on undertaking industrial action as a result.[1][2]

A strike ballot was held on the 30 June. Campaigning for a yes ballot took place, in one notable example the CWU erected billboards outside the BT Tower calling out a 32% increase in remuneration for BT Group CEO Philip Jansen, which it contrasted with the establishment of a "community pantry" at a BT call centre. BT claimed that this was "absolutely not a food bank", despite CWU claims to the contrary.[3][4] A majority of both Openreach and BT Group staff turned out to vote in favour of strike action, though a strike ballot held by staff at BT owned mobile communications operator EE did not achieve the 50% turnout required by the Trade Union Act 2016, missing the 50% turnout threshold by 8 votes.[5] This strike action took place on 29 July and 1 August, in the first nationwide strike taken by BT staff since 1987.[6][7] Another two-day strike was held on 30 and 31 August.[8] Additional strikes were also held on 6th, 10th, 20th and 24th October. Unlike in previous strikes, the CWU did not exempt 999 switchboard operators from partaking in October's industrial action. BT subsequently redeployed staff from other lines of business to answer 999 calls during the strike days.[9]

On 28 November, union members accepted BT's offer of a £1,500 pay raise for workers earning less than £50,000, thus ending the year's industrial action.[10]

Response

In response to the notification of strike action made to BT Group, the company published a press release on 15 July in which it claimed that the pay offer it made awarded "team member and frontline colleagues the highest pay award in more than 20 years" and that "while we respect the choice of our colleagues who are CWU members to strike, we will work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected".[11]

On 1 August, shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy joined CWU members on a picket line in her Wigan constituency, with shadow employment minister Imran Hussain and Labour whip Navendu Mishra also joining CWU picket lines.[12][13] This is despite Labour Party leader Keir Starmer having previously told shadow ministers that they should not join picket lines during the 2022 United Kingdom railway strikes.[14] Lisa Nandy is reported to have made Keir Starmer's office aware of her appearance on the picket line in advance of her visit.[12]

See also

References
  1. "BT Pay Review 2022 – CWU Rejects Latest Offer – Conference backs Emergency Motion to call Industrial Action over BT's action to impose an unagreed Pay Deal. | CWU CCTV Branch". 2022-04-11. Archived from the original on 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  2. Kunert, Paul (8 April 2022). "British comms union rejects latest pay offer from BT". The Register. Archived from the original on 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  3. "No let up for BT bosses as CWU strike ballot enters final countdown". CWU. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  4. Grant, Katie (2022-06-24). "BT call centre 'community pantry' is 'absolutely not a food bank', telecoms giant insists". inews. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  5. Sweney, Mark (2022-06-30). "BT staff vote for first national strike in 35 years". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2022-07-20. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  6. Sweney, Mark (2022-07-15). "BT staff to strike on 29 July and 1 August". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  7. "40,000 BT and Openreach workers in first national telecoms strike since 1987". Sky News. Archived from the original on 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  8. Timmins, Beth (31 August 2022). "Royal Mail and BT strikes see 150,000 workers walk out". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  9. "BT Group aims to protect 999 services during strike". BBC News. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  10. Race, Michael (2022-11-28). "BT and Unions agree pay rise of up to 16% to stop more strikes". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  11. "BT Group response to notification by the CWU of industrial action". BT Group response to notification by the CWU of industrial action. Archived from the original on 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  12. Elgot, Jessica (2022-08-01). "Lisa Nandy visits picket line despite ban on Labour frontbenchers attending strikes". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  13. "The CWU on Twitter: "Thank you to @lisanandy for joining the Wigan picket line today. It means a lot to our members"". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  14. Elgot, Jessica (2022-07-27). "Keir Starmer under pressure over strike stance as Labour MP joins picket line". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2022-07-28. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
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