It has just been announced that BT 999 call handlers will be going on strike next month (October) over a dispute relating to pay.
BT reacted angrily to the news, calling the strike action ‘reckless’.
The UK telecoms incumbent reacted to the news from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in the pair’s ongoing fight over pay.
The CWU shared that 999 workers will strike alongside 40,000 BT and Openreach staff on four separate days in October.
In a statement, a spokesperson for BT said:
“We know that our colleagues are dealing with the impacts of high inflation and, whilst we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action, we are profoundly disappointed that the CWU is prepared to take this reckless course of action by including 999 services in strikes”.
During a meeting with BT, CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said:
“We intend to serve notice on BT Group today for four days of strike action during October.
“And we intend to up the ante – so we’ll remove all emergency cover and pull out 999 operators.”
BT said that the strike dates are set for the 6th, 10th, 20th and 24th of October.
When an individual calls 999, they are connected to a BT operator who asks the caller which service they require before the caller is put through to the relevant emergency service (Police, Ambulance, Fire or Coastguard).
A spokesperson for BT added:
“We will do whatever it takes to protect 999 services – redeploying our people to the most important priority is a normal part of BT Group operations.
“We made the best pay award we could in April and we have held discussions with the CWU to find a way forward from here.”
Before you go...
WE NEED YOUR HELP.Here at Emergency Services News, we aim to tell you stories that the mainstream media are not interested in reporting. Whilst the MSM love to berate and ridicule the emergency services, who is there to report on the realities of serving on the front line?
Emergency Services News is currently a loss-making entity. But our team of volunteers, all former emergency services personnel, do not do it for the money.
We do it because we are sick and tired of the mainstream media constantly trying to undermine the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep you and your family safe.
How many MSM journalists who speak ill of the emergency services have actually dared to don the uniform and risk their own lives to save the life of a complete stranger? If you would like to help back our mission of reporting on fact-based news, then please consider helping to support us financially.
You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.
Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.