The Communication Workers Union conference voted this week for a strike ballot at BT, which could trigger the first national strike at the telecoms firm since 1985.
The union, representing just over half of BT’s 100,000 staff, is unhappy that the company will not improve a 2 per cent below-inflation pay offer, despite reporting rising profits of more than £1 billion last year.
Anger increased after news that BT chief executive Ian Livingston will receive a £1.2 million bonus on top of his £800,000 salary. CWU members will be balloted if an improved offer is not made by June 4.
The CWU conference also voted unanimously to launch a campaign to keep the Royal Mail in public ownership, placing it on a collision course with the coalition Government which announced plans to part-privatise the firm in the Queen’s Speech.
General secretary Billy Hayes told delegates: “Privatisation means running down the service. It means that the interests of the UK public are placed below the interests of those who will only put money in so that they can take even more out. Once again, we say to the government: ‘Privatisation no. Royal Mail is not for sale’.”
The union will now have to set up a campaign committee at CWU headquarters, and try to open negotiations with the Government over the plans. Business secretary Vince Cable is following the policy of his predecessor Lord Mandelson, insisting that plugging Royal Mail’s pension deficit is tied to part-privatisation and promising to keep the Post Office fully publicly owned.
Meanwhile, the CWU could be set to back a Labour leadership candidate from the left of the party after the conference voted to only support a candidate who supports union policies, including a public Royal Mail and the scrapping of restrictive trade union laws.
The union’s national executive committee will choose a candidate after nominations close, who will then have to be approved by the membership. Several NEC members told Tribune that John McDonnell seemed most attractive.
One said: “If the work was done, I think there’s a possibility he could get the support of the CWU”. Another said the winner would “have to support bringing in a set of laws that were positive on trade union rights. Obviously John McDonnell would tick all the boxes.” Two said that they did not expect the Miliband brothers to receive much support.
