Fresh strike action from BT and Openreach workers saw 999 call handlers join the demonstration for a second time in Glasgow city centre.
Standing outside Alexander Bain House on York Street on Monday, the emergency call handlers told the Glasgow Times they were some of the 'lowest-paid workers in the company' and were seeking a pay rise in line with inflation.
READ MORE: BT and Openreach workers strike in Glasgow city centre
Thousands of members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) - which represents BT Group Workers - joined strikes across the country as they enter their fourth day of action.
Calls to 999 were to be handled by trained colleagues to minimise disruption during the strikes.
Erin Kelly, a Glasgow-based 999 operator, said: “Operators from the 999 service are here showing solidarity with our colleagues from BT and Openreach.
“This not a decision that we have taken lightly.
“We are some of the lowest-paid workers in BT.
“My colleagues that are standing here with us today worked day in and day out through the pandemic, putting their lives and that of their families at risk in order to make sure 999 calls were answered, whilst our CEO Philip Jansen and senior management were sitting at home.
“This was not an option open to the 999 call handlers.
“We are here today asking for a decent wage rise in line with inflation.
“The 8% being banded about by BT is not accurate. Our job is not easy.
“We are doing a very important job, it’s time that we are all recognised, we are not asking for much.
“We are just asking for a decent living wage rise”.
More strikes will be held on October 20 and 24 if the deadlocked row is not resolved.
The strikes by BT call centre workers and Openreach engineers are in protest against a flat-rate pay rise of £1500, which the union described as “incredibly low” because of soaring inflation.
BT has said it will not be reopening its 2022 pay review.
READ MORE: Dozens of rail workers stage picket lines in city centre
A BT Group spokesperson 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.
“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.
“In the meantime, we will continue to work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected”.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here