The Communication Workers Union said almost 96 percent of around 21,000 BT Openreach engineers voted in favour of a strike. Some 91.5 percent of BT Group workers who voted, many of them call centre staff, also favoured a strike. If a strike does go ahead, it would be the first in 35 years at BT.
The CWU said it would have a “serious effect” on infrastructure, particularly on broadband rollout, and may cause disruption to phone and internet users including those working from home.
The union labelled the company’s award this year of a £1,500 pay hike to frontline workers, which translates to 3%-8% increases, as “incredibly low” considering the country is currently gripped by the cost of living crisis.
BT has called the pay award its biggest in 20 years.
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