BT Group has called on union bosses to commit to maintaining 999 emergency services as they prepare to announce the dates for the company’s first strike in more than three decades.
Sky News understands company bosses have written to the CWU in recent days to seek clarification on whether it will guarantee staff on its so-called life and end-time contract.
Dave Ward, the CWU general secretary, refused to rule out a disruption to 999 services when asked about it last month, with the union saying it was ready to reveal strike dates as early as Wednesday.
BT staff voted last month to go on strike for the first time in 35 years, with union bosses claiming a £1,500 pay rise offered by the company was insufficient to help staff cope with the cost of living crisis .
The former state monopoly is responsible for answering all 999 calls and drawing up contingency plans to deal with disruption if CWU members trained to provide the service go on strike.
A CWU spokesman said: “The CWU has not yet called for any industrial action, so any discussion of a potential strike is pure speculation at this stage.”
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0:31 BT staff vote for national strike
BT is among a number of companies, including British Airways and Royal Mail, facing the most significant industrial unrest for years as millions of Britons struggle to cope with rising inflation.
The telco’s executives are said to be confident of their ability to operate mobile and broadband networks during the strikes after extensive stress tests during the pandemic.
BT declined to comment on life and life contract discussions, but said: “BT Group has awarded its highest pay rise for frontline colleagues for more than 20 years – an average 5% rise and up to 8% for those with the most low wages.
“Our job is to balance the competing demands of BT Group shareholders and this requires careful management, particularly in a challenging economic environment.”
He said he would “work to keep our customers and the country connected”.
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