7th July 2022 – UPDATE FOR OPENREACH & BT MEMBERS.
Congratulations on delivering last week’s outstanding national strike ballot results. Here is a quick update for you.
As we set out on the day of the ballot result, we have now written to the CEO of BT Group, Philip Jansen setting out our approach to any further negotiations. We have committed to talks with the company but only if they are willing to improve their offer, agree to no further imposition on pay and agree that it would be subject to a CWU consultative ballot of all affected members.
We have given BT Group until Wednesday 13th July to respond.
We clearly hope BT Group see sense and the ballot result wakes them up but we have to be prepared to use the ballot result.
On this basis, we have called a branch forum of representatives from across the UK on Wednesday 13th July. This forum will discuss potential dates for the first Group wide strike action since 1987. We will further communicate with you following the forum.
In short, next week we will either enter into serious negotiations with the company or we will announce strike action. The ball is firmly in the company’s court. Once again, well done on the great ballot results, let’s stay united to win this fight– unity is strength.
Following the announcement of the strike ballot results this afternoon, Thursday 30th June 2022, thousands of BT workers have voted to go on strike for pay. General Secretary, Dave Ward said he expected BT to offer a ‘significantly improved’ pay rise by next week or strike dates will be set.
The Branch would like to thank all members for their backing of the Union in the Ballot. To achieve over a 90% YES vote in the two areas of the business that our Branch represents members in, sends a clear message of how you and your fellow members feel.
Watch the Press Conference to announce the results of the BT / Openreach / EE strike ballots on YouTube
And on Facebook
The full results are below.
Industrial Action Ballot – CWU. Trade Dispute with Openreach.
Question: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?
Number of Individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot. 28,425
Number of votes cast in the ballot. 21,272
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote. 74.8%
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned. 12
Result of Voting
YES – 20,358 – 95.8%
NO – 902 – 4.2%
Industrial Action Ballot – CWU. Trade Dispute with British Telecom PLC.
Question: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?
Number of Individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot. 10,353
Number of votes cast in the ballot. 21,272
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote. 58.2%
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned. 6
Result of Voting
YES – 5,503 – 91.5%
NO – 513 – 8.5%
Industrial Action Ballot – CWU. Trade Dispute with EE PLC.
Question: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?
Number of Individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot. 2,261
Number of votes cast in the ballot. 1.123
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote. 49.7%
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned. 1
Result of Voting
YES 1,071 95.5%
NO 51 4.5%
Therefore, the ballot results for BT plc and Openreach Ltd meet the required threshold. Unfortunately, in EE Ltd, the threshold was not met, by 8 votes, as the number of votes cast was less than 50%.
Further information regarding the next steps of the dispute will be made available to members in due course.