in the CWU

www.socialistparty.org.uk | Socialist Party CWU Bulletin | BT Pay Ballot

CWU in BT:
Vote YES for Action
T
he CWU is set to ballot its
members in BT for industrial
action over pay for the
first time since 1987, as
members face pay restraint whilst
BT Executives are raking it in.
Clive Walder, CWU Birmingham,
Black Country and Worcester
Branch (personal capacity)
Last year the union recommended
its members accepted only a 400
non consolidated payment and
reductions in pension benefits
because the company pleaded
poverty after making its first loss
since the 1970s.
Most members thought that this
was a one-off to help BT through a basic pay packet of 850K. And skills they have so that they can
temporary financial difficulties but these are the people that are telling break industrial action. The union
are now angry that the company us they cant afford to improve their needs to be equally resolute in its
has come back for more now that offer! preparation too.
they have returned to profit. It has This dispute should be seen as a The unions 5% pay claim would
become obvious to most members watershed. If BT win this it is almost cost BT a mere 6% of this years
that this was a con; the first step certain that conditions of service profits. They can afford to pay and
in a campaign to erode pay and will come under attack and possibly a large Yes vote in the industrial
conditions and break the union as the no compulsory redundancy action ballot is essential to stop
an effective force for defending its agreement as well. If a decent pay managements attacks and secure
members. rise isnt secured this year then decent pay and pensions for BT
BT members are seething at below -inflation and non or partly staff.
managements double standards. consolidated and pensionable pay Socialist Party members in the
Some senior management have rises will be the norm in the future. CWU are calling for a Yes vote
received pay rises of over 50% for We will not only lose ground on pay for industrial action, to secure
meeting business targets delivered but many members will face poverty a decent pay deal and send a
by CWU members! These rises are in retirement also. warning to BT management that
on top of pay packets that ordinary BT have already started to prepare we will not accept attacks on our
members could only dream of. CEO for industrial action by asking hard won terms and conditions.
Ian Livingstone, for instance, has managers which of our members
 www.socialistparty.org.uk | Socialist Party CWU Bulletin | BT Pay Ballot

Build Action to Fight the Cuts!

T
he newly formed ConDem
coalition is sharpening the
axe to take to our public
services. David Cameron
has said that the cuts will change
Britains whole way of life. The
absence of any alternative to the
cuts and privatisation agenda from
the main political parties leaves the
unions as the first line of defence for
working people in defence of their
jobs, services and communities.
This means creating a Public Sector
Alliance at all levels, building the
strongest possible workplace
organisation and establishing
links between unions at branch,
town and city and national levels:
regional conferences of public
sector workers must be organised,
trades councils built and supported
and demonstrations organised.
Fighting separately will only leave
individually more vulnerable and
any idea there can be any trade-
off between deserving and
undeserving public services must
be firmly rejected No To Cuts And
Privatisation must mean precisely
what it says if we are to succeed in
stopping these attacks. At the same
time, it also means putting forward
the argument for a mass political The failure of the banks and free
alternative to the establishment market and the utterly craven
consensus. consensus amongst the political
The TUC must stop acting as establishment that there is no
a counselling and arbitration alternative to the market, gives us
service and give the kind of a real opportunity to argue and
committed lead that the main build for a real alternative, a society
political parties give to their big based on genuine democracy and
business masters. Whoever forms public control of the wealth and
the next government will to aim resources of the world rather than
to rip the heart out of the public the chaos of this system that is now
sector, the TUC must therefore raining misery down on millions. If
urgently organise a national you agree, then we would urge you
demonstration of all public sector to get involved in the campaign to
workers in defence of jobs, living fight these vicious cuts. But also to
standards and services as a consider joining the Socialist Party
step toward joint public sector and help build a political vehicle that
industrial action. can bring about socialist change.
Trade unionists must be at the
forefront of fighting the cuts
and, critically, demanding a real
alternative; bring the major utilities
back into public ownership, along
with those services hived off into
the private sector by successive
Tory and Labour government
and for an expansion, not cuts in
the public sector to provide the
valuable services our communities
need and which will help lead us
out of recession by providing much
needed jobs, particularly for youth.

Get involved Id like to join the Socialist Party F Id like more information about the Socialist Party F
Subscribe to the Socialist 12 issues 9 F 6 months 18 F 1 year 36 F
please make cheques payable to Socialist Publications Ltd
Name......................................................................................................................................................................
Address.................................................................................................................... Post Code............................
Email.......................................................................................................................................................................
Telephone...............................................................................................................................................................
Send to: PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, email join@socialistparty.org.uk or ring 0208 988 8777
Text JOIN, plus your name and postcode to: 07984 027 754