Increased BT profits

31^st January 2014

 For immediate release

CWU welcomes “strong” results from BT Group Plc

The Communication Workers Union today (Friday 31 January) welcomed results from BT Group Plc which shows an increase in revenue and pre-tax profit. 

  CWU will be entering negotiations with BT management in the next month about a pay claim for CWU represented grades.

 The results, released today, show a growth in revenue, a profit increase of eight per cent before tax and earnings per share up 12 per cent. 

 Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary said: “It’s great to see BT performing well and this is good news for all BT employees who have worked hard to deliver the new services that BT offers.  This strong set of results, showing an increase in both revenue and pre-tax profit, and is testament to the talent and commitment of BT’s workforce.   

 “We will be negotiating with BT management in the near future about pay for CWU represented grades, and we’ll be looking to secure a fair deal that properly reflects the contribution BT’s workforce makes to the company’s ongoing success.”

-ends-

Notes to editors:

·         Detailed information on BT Group Plc’s results can be found here: http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/ShowArticle.cfm?ArticleID=42B944BD-9880-4DBF-8F0A-7F39DAF9F1D1

For more information please contact:

Sophie Kimber, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail:skimber@cwu.org

Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail:kslocombe@cwu.org

www.cwu.org www.cwutv.org Twitter: @CWUnews

Romec Strike Vote

27^th January 2014
For immediate release

 Romec engineers vote yes to defend job security

The Communication Workers Union has today (Monday 27 January) welcomed the decision by engineers, employed by the maintenance and facilities contractor Romec, to take strike action over attacks on their job security.
 Over 94 per cent of the engineers voting said yes to taking strike action.
Romec provides services for Royal Mail and several commercial customers, but, at the end of last year some of these contracts were abruptly terminated, potentially placing engineers’ jobs in jeopardy.
Romec is seeking to abuse TUPE legislation in order to avoid redeployment costs when moving employees out of the company. CWU has previously agreed a Managing Surplus Agreement (MSA) procedure with Romec. However, the company is now refusing to honour this long-standing agreement.  
The ballot closed today. The earliest that strike action could take place would be 3^rd February.
Ray Ellis, CWU national officer said: “Romec is seeking to abuse TUPE legislation to force long-serving, loyal employees out of the company in order to avoid redeployment costs. Romec has refused to honour its obligation to its employees and is now riding roughshod over employees’ job security. I fully support the engineers who want to take a stand over these attacks and hold Romec to the agreements they have made with the union. The company’s behaviour defies belief.
“Rather than discuss the potential staff surplus with the union, as it is obliged to do under the MSA, Romec unilaterally decided to allocate employees to artificially constructed duties to enable them to be transferred out against their will or face being treated as having voluntarily resigned without compensation.
“The MSA is the key agreement protecting our Romec members’ job security and Romec’s cynical attempts to bypass it show callous disregard to those employees directly affected and represent a threat to every Romec member.”
-ends-

For more information please contact:

Sophie Kimber, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail:skimber@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail:kslocombe@cwu.org
www.cwu.org www.cwutv.org Twitter: @CWUnews