By Andy McCue, 2 August 2005 11:55
NEWS UK mobile operator O2 is facing the threat of strike action after workers voted overwhelmingly to reject the company's "insulting" pay offer.
Nearly 4,000 call centre staff, shop workers and engineers at O2 were balloted by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) on the pay offer, with 96 per cent of the three-quarters who voted choosing to reject it.
The union claims the package would freeze the basic pay of half the O2 workforce for up to seven years while tying the other half to unattainable performance targets.
Dave Johnson, lead CWU negotiator with O2, warned that a ballot on industrial action is "inevitable" if O2 fails to improve its latest pay offer and said the mobile operator faces a summer of "discontent and disruption".
"It is about time O2 started listening to its workforce instead of insulting them. It is clearly beyond their comprehension that the O2 board can afford to pay themselves huge salaries and bonuses whilst denying them a cost of living increase. This obscene state of affairs is totally unacceptable," he said in a statement.
A spokesman for O2 called the ballot result disappointing but said the mobile operator has contingency plans in place to ensure the network and customer service are not disrupted in the event of strike action.
"We're disappointed with the result and we're still open to dialogue with the CWU but we want to move away from a one-size fits all pay package to one that rewards employees for good performance," he said.
Comments
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1. mark
Its about time the unions got a grip, moved into the 21st centrury and did away with collective bargaining. All it does is reward the laziest and disincentivises the hardest working employees.....you simply cannot have a one size fits all pay review it is simply unfair.
2. Nigel Perry
But for the trade union movement most workers in the UK would still be living in poverty while the fat cats take all the money. Like most trade union members I have no time for irresponsible behaviour and I can assure you that in today's democratic trade unions you don't get 96% votes for anything that does not make good sense. Employers often use the union ballots to judge the mood of their employees, so I expect that is what O2 is doing here.
3. anonymous
Unfortunately for the unions Thatcher took away most of the unions power, offshoring is busily taking away the rest
4. anonymous
well mr IT strategy Manager would spout that nonsense as he is one of the management with probably a nice big salary anyway.
Perhaps he should get real and come into the 21st century. we should not need in these "enlightened" and modern times to be fighting for a decent wage. Rather we are being pushed back into the dark days of exploitation with management attempting to push down wages using the 3rd world "outsourcing" as a threat to keep pay here low