Information for Members Working for BT
Industrial Action in BT by "Connect" Members
20 June 2008
The CWU has been notified that "Connect" is calling on its members to take industrial action, short of a strike, with effect from Tuesday, 24 June 2008.
The industrial action will involve members of Connect working only their contractual hours. The normal trade union principles will apply and CWU members should not carry out the work of Connect represented employees who are engaged in official industrial action. Their action will start on 24 June – members have been asked to work only their contractual hours.
Jeannie Drake, CWU Deputy General Secretary (T&FS) has told us the reason Connect is taking industrial action, short of strike action, over pay can be summarised as follows:
For the past two pay rounds, BT has failed to reach agreement with Connect. The pay rises under their pay system, called the Reward Framework, means pay increases are based on performance and current pay rate in relation to the individual’s pay scale. The pay increases concentrate the budget on those low in range and the higher performers. This means that for many individuals whose performance is rated as Good, they can receive increases of less than RPI, and where people are generally Satisfactory or Needs Improvement, there is no base pay increase at all. The overall quantum for the 2008 pay award for the Reward Framework was 4.3% and this includes 0.5% specifically for equal pay purposes. Connect also cites an erosion in differentials – it argues that few Team members are unwilling to go for promotion since they earn at least as much as their managers.
More information
- Connect web site: www.connectuk.org