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The Communication Workers Union said almost 96 percent of around 21,000 BT Openreach engineers voted in favour of a strike. Some 91.5 percent of BT Group workers who voted, many of them call centre staff, also favoured a strike. If a strike does go ahead, it would be the first in 35 years at BT.
The CWU said it would have a “serious effect” on infrastructure, particularly on broadband rollout, and may cause disruption to phone and internet users including those working from home.
The union labelled the company’s award this year of a £1,500 pay hike to frontline workers, which translates to 3%-8% increases, as “incredibly low” considering the country is currently gripped by the cost of living crisis.
BT has called the pay award its biggest in 20 years.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said in a statement: “Call centre workers are some of the most casualised and isolated workforces in this country.
“The unprecedented vote they have taken today demonstrates the anger so many people feel in this country today.”
The CWU also wrote in a tweet: “History has been made. Britain’s first-ever national call centre workers ballot – 80 percent of members working from home.
“A huge chunk of our 10,000 BT Group members.
“Yes 91.5 percent. Turnout 58.2 percent.
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Last month, it was announced that UK inflation had soared to 9.1 percent – its highest in four decades.
This has contributed to strikes or threats of industrial action by workers across transport services, schools, postal services and hospitals.
Last week, millions of people throughout the country were hit after a nationwide rail strike on three separate days.
There was also a Tube strike on the London Underground last Tuesday.
Earlier this week, another huge strike moved one step closer as 115,000 postal workers began balloting.
On Tuesday, ballots began landing at the homes of members of the CWU, which represents postal workers.
The union is demanding that Royal Mail Group negotiates with them to secure a “straight, no-strings pay increase for employees”.
It said at the time of writing, “management intends to impose a 2% pay rise by executive action”.
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