THE head of a union behind strikes at BT and Openreach has suggested that a general strike is possible due to resentment over perceived political inaction on the energy crisis.
Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, told GB News: “We’ve seen record numbers of people voting for strike action.
“It’s important that we discuss the BT strike that’s taking place today, and that’s because workers, certainly BT and Openreach workers, are disgusted with the hypocrisy and greed of the CEO of the company, Philip Jansen, and the BT Group board.
“His is a company that posted £1.3 billion of profit. Last year, they posted first quarter profits of £400 million.
“They chose to give away over £700 million to shareholders. That money doesn’t go back into the UK economy that goes out of the UK, and probably builds the infrastructure of other countries as opposed to our country.
“The CEO received a 32% increase.”
Asked if we are heading towards a General Strike, he said: “This is a question of the choices that people at the top of companies make.
“What they’re actually saying to their own workers who have made those profits is that no matter what the contribution you make to the success of this company, we’re going to ensure that you’re poorer. That can never not be acceptable.”
Mr Ward, speaking during an interview on Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, told GB News: “We need to change the system as well as deal with the current cost of living crisis.
“We have to have a look at the long term impact which is basically down to a structural imbalance of power and wealth. It permeates the world of work.
“It’s the way that the economy operates in being rigged against working people and it’s the root of all of the inequalities that you see in society today, so the system has to change – how do you do that?
He added: “There are some simple things that could be introduced, so pay ratios for CEOs, which the workers could vote on. I think workers will understand that executive pay should be at a reasonable level.
“But you can’t carry on with this philosophy of we’ve always got to pay top dollar for those at the top of the company, but when it comes to the people who actually make the profits, it doesn’t matter that we can go and get somebody else.
“That is unacceptable in today’s society, and so that has to change.”
He issued a challenge to company bosses: “We’re happy to debate with them in the room here with you, we’d rather sit around the table and negotiate a settlement as we work with BT.
“You know, there’s an appeal we’re making today.
“People like Philip Jansen, look, get your hands dirty, Philip. Come into the room, negotiate a settlement, treat the workers that have made the profits in the right way.”
Asked about the mood among union members, he said: “I think there’s a mood that things have got to change, I think there’s a mood of solidarity, the likes of which I’ve never seen in my time in the union movement.
“And I do believe that we’ll be discussing policies, about taking forms of collective action.
“The objective of getting the government to take action is separate to the disputes that we’re currently involved in.
“But the government needs to step in and do something about the cost of living crisis.
“They’re not doing anything and people in the country I think are beginning to realise that things have to change and unions will lead that fight for working people in the absence of any action by political parties.”
