BT chief's rumoured £1 million bonus may anger union

gallery

BT will reveal a £1 million bonus for chief executive Ian Livingston later this week, according to various reports.

If the telecoms giant does announce such a bonus it will add to the anger at the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which is the middle of a pay dispute with BT, asking the firm to increase its two per cent pay rise offer to staff to five per cent.

“The speculation in the media is based on BT’s improved performance for the year to 31 March 2010. BT’s annual report will be published on Wednesday,” a BT spokesman told IT PRO.

Regarding the pay dispute, the spokesman said CWU’s demands are “unrealistic” and that BT was disappointed the CWU leadership rejected its “very fair offer”.

They added: “We are keen to safeguard jobs for the long term and a realistic pay deal will be a major step in that direction. We hope the union review their position as this is our final offer.”

The CWU has now launched a campaign to draw more attention to the pay dispute in the run-up to a ballot for industrial action.

Speaking in Stockport on the campaign trail, Allan Eldred, a member of CWU's National Executive Council, said that a better offer from BT is “justified, reasonable and affordable”.

The union had welcomed the telecoms firm’s recent financial results which showed a £1 billion profit had been achieved.

"BT is now an extremely successful company, emerging strongly from the recession and making significant profits," said Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, in a statement.

"In no small part it is the hard-working employees who have brought about the transformation in BT's fortunes, and the company now needs to reward their unprecedented loyalty.”

Email to a friend

Print this page