BT is planning to hand its UK frontline workers a £1,500 pay increase, although unions say they have rejected the proposal and are preparing a vote on strike action.
The company said the flat rate pay rise is being given to 58,000 workers across BT Group, including engineers, contact centre staff and retail staff.
BT said the increase is “focussed on the lowest paid workers” and will work out as a roughly 8% increase for some members of staff [those on under £20,000 per year].
For higher paid frontline workers, it would be a smaller rise (around 3.33% for someone on £45,000, I calculate).
BT says the deal “contrasts well with the average of 3% typically being awarded by UK employers.”
Philip Jansen, chief executive of BT, said the firm hopes lower paid workers will “benefit most and as soon as possible” amid the rising cost of living crisis. “BT Group has continued to support the country as it recovers from the pandemic: keeping families connected, helping businesses to grow in new, online markets, and supporting organisations to stay connected and adopt hybrid working.
“We took the decision not to use redundancy and the Government’s furlough scheme as a direct consequence of the pandemic, and thanks to the contribution of all 100,000 BT people, we’ve continued to improve customer ratings and invest in growing our full-fibre and mobile networks.”
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