By Natasha Lomas, 23 May 2008 13:38
NEWS
The threat of industrial action by BT managers over pay conditions has been averted - for now - as talks continue between the telco and the trade union representing around 14,000 BT managers and professionals.
Last week, on the day BT issued its financial results, the Connect union announced its members had voted by a margin of more than four to one to take "widespread industrial action across the UK in protest against BT's unacceptable pay offer".
The proposed industrial action, which stops short of all out strike, was due to take place next week after the Bank Holiday but Leslie Manasseh, deputy general secretary of Connect, told silicon.com: "Connect has agreed to suspend industrial action in BT to allow further talks. The company now has the opportunity to table a fair offer for our members on pay, to avoid the need for industrial action."
The BT managers are angry over what they believe is an unfair pay offer and with the distribution of pay - with too many members being offered a zero per cent pay rise, according to Connect, and many continuing to be paid less than the people they manage.
The union added there are also major concerns about the pay gap between male and female employees.
A BT spokesman told silicon.com the threat of industrial action was withdrawn by Connect the day after it was issued, adding that "further talks are continuing".
Comments
There are 4 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
We used to dream about a 0% payrise, but then we had it tough. Don't you know there is a recession on? Stop bleating and concentrate on improving your standard of service before you are all outsourced.
2. anonymous
"paid less than the people they manage"
And what is wrong with that?
Seems like an excellent and common sense way to avoid brilliant technical people with no managerial skills, trying to get promoted to a job that they are totally unsuitable for, simply to get a pay rise.
3. anonymous
To whoever said about it being fine to be paid less than the people you manage being fine. Appreciate there will always be circumstances where it is okay, but when you've got a team of people whom aren't massively more technical / experienced people, who all get flexi time and fixed hours when you don't, you have to sort out all the crap regardless of hours and then to top it, they're on paid more than you it's rather demoralising!
That aside, in general the demoralising part is when you have the most or at least have the same level of knowledge / skillset and are still paid less than people doing the same job, by many thousands of pounds!
4. Karen Challinor
can the manager do the coalface job - probably no
can the coalface worker do the managers job - maybe not as well but probably yes
which worker is worth more ?
I've always believed the corporate pyramid of importance and remuneration should be the other way up with the coalface being the most important and highly paid position
after all lose the coalface workers and the company goes down the tubes, lose the CEO and the company carries on