User talk:Brian McNeil/BT-CWU dispute round 2

Original Reporting

 * Attempting to set up interview(s) around this, including Andy Kerr, CWU Deputy Gen. Sec.

Log of interactions
July 6, 2010
 * 1) 1300 BST: Emailed Sian Jones, CWU Press Officer. Warned of intent to call, mentioned desire to interview Andy
 * 2) 1312 BST: Rec'd friendly response from Sian, responded. She remembered talking to me, indicated Andy difficult to pin down, but would try.
 * 3) 1344 BST: Emailed Richard Knowles in the BT Press office (earlier failed send BCC'd scoop, email content identical). This an invitation to let me speak to someone in management. Request for copies of all issued statements.
 * 4) 1355 BST: Read receipt from Richard Knowles.
 * 5) ~1400 BST: Called CWU Press Office. Got voicemail, and Sian's GSM number.
 * 6) 1420 BST: Called Sian's GSM, confirmed was back in office & called press number again.
 * 7) 1420 BST: 25 minute chat with Sian about current situation.
 * 8) 1431 BST: Rec'd response from Richard in the BT Press office, offering background marked as "purely off the record".
 * 9) 1518 BST: Corrected Richard, "Wikinews, not Wiki News". Clarified independent journo. Highlighted rec'd no pressers on BT dispute. Stated talking with CWU Press Office. Noted, despite "door always open", CWU claimed difficulty arranging a meeting with BT management.
 * 10) 1540 BST: Emailed a former Postmaster-General requesting permission to phone about the dispute.
 * 11) 1550 BST: Reply post-call to Sian. Provided mobile for contact, asked for clarification on 2-3 points, stressed keen to speak to Andy Kerr.
 * 12) 1603 BST: Response from Richard @ BT. Quoted below.
 * 13) 1659 BST: Again, re-iterated "Wikinews, not Wiki News" to Richard @ BT. Thanked for updating on statements issued to press.

 July 7, 2010


 * 1) 1015 BST: Emailed apparent press contact with the USPS to see if can get in touch with the US Postmaster General (John Potter).
 * 2) 1128 BST: Received various contact details back from Sian at the CWU.
 * 3) 1231 BST: Received response from Michael Woods with the USPS.
 * 4) 1350 BST: Emailed a number of questions to Michael Woods for the US Postmaster General.
 * 5) 1402 BST: Emailed press staff at Unite seeking general information on their dispute with British Airways over planned strike action there, and it going to the High Court.
 * 6) 1430 BST: Read receipt, Michael Woods USPS.
 * 7) 2230 BST: Invitation to call former Postmaster General, Tony Benn.

Notes from interaction #7 (Call to Sian at CWU press office)

 * Started getting queries, and challenges from BT as soon as the ballot on strike action was started.
 * Even received five letters in one day.
 * Decided to take legal advice last week regarding strike action, assuming a yes vote on-ballot. Told that there was a high probability of BT raising a successful challenge in the High Court.
 * All related to 1992 Trades Union Act, described it as "draconian". Generally known as anti-trade union law.
 * Ballot was being conducted by Electoral Reform Services (ERS).
 * There was not any actual result due to Monday's cancellation, no indication of how the voting was going.
 * Related to the '92 act, British Airways strike and legal challenges were with Unite. They lost in court due to, apparently, balloting members who had already left the company.
 * CWU has successfully won on-appeal when legally challenged in relation to balloting Royal Mail employees on strike action.
 * Determined to get more than 2% for members in 2010. Do not normally tie themselves into 2-year deals with BT. Consider the on-the-table offer unacceptable given high inflation and BT profits.
 * As-yet no meeting date set between Andy of the CWU and BT management.
 * BT being unhelpful in setting this up.
 * RE '92 act. TUC &c put significant pressure on New Labour to repeal or amend it while in power. CWU still a Labour affiliate. A draft bill was created to amend the "anti-trades union legislation".

Notes (on-the-record) from interaction #8
"BT is pleased that the CWU has withdrawn its ballot for industrial action. There were procedural issues regarding the ballot that we raised from the start and the union have now accepted this to be the case. Our door remains fully open to the union and so we hope we can sit down and resolve this matter. An amicable agreement is in everyone’s interest and the withdrawal of the ballot provides both sides with a window of opportunity in which to reach such an agreement".

Content of email received as interaction #12
"Brian, As I said, it is not our want to carry out conversations with the CWU through Wiki News. Below is the only press release we have issued, plus subsequent reactive statements. I will ensure that you go on the mailing list for any future press releases on this issue, however it is not our protocol to distribute statements en masse as by there very nature they are reactive. Regards, Richard On June 18th, BT issued the following statement: "We are surprised by the union telling the media they are willing to compromise on their 5 per cent claim. At no stage have they formally put forward an alternative proposal. Given this, we call on the union to postpone the ballot and return to formal discussions with the company. Industrial action is unnecessary and would only benefit our competitors so we look forward to any new proposal from the union".  On June 17th, BT issued the following statement: "We are disappointed that the ballot is going ahead but for many months the Union has appeared to be intent on taking industrial action. BT has improved its offer several times but the union have not moved once from their opening claim. Their insistence on 5 per cent this year alone, at a time when they're accepting around 2% from other companies, is puzzling and at odds with pay deals throughout the public and private sector. Our offer is one of the best around and would see all their members receive 5.1 per cent over twenty one months with thousands actually getting more than 10 per cent. On top of that, there are extra payments and guarantees on job security. BT is now contacting union members directly as it is clear that the union's leadership are unwilling to negotiate. BT workers already enjoy pay and holidays well in excess of those at other companies and our offer would ensure that remains the case". June 9, 2010 - BT PAY TALKS COLLAPSE BT tonight expressed its surprise and disappointment after CWU leaders rejected all aspects of the company’s new offer and said they would ballot for industrial action. The CWU are demanding a 5 per cent pay rise for 2010/11, whereas BT has offered a pay rise worth 5.1 per cent over twenty-one months, several additional one-off payments and guarantees on job security. BT made the offer on Monday afternoon in an effort to break the current impasse, but the union’s leadership rejected it the very next day, prior to any discussions with the company. Talks were held today at BT Centre but no progress was made given the union’s refusal to shift from their original demands. A BT Spokesman said tonight: “We are astonished the CWU have rejected an improved offer which would have given their members job security. Our offer is considerably more generous than those they’ve accepted elsewhere, including at some of our competitors. “BT has moved several times over recent months but the union have remained rooted to the spot demanding a pay rise that is out of line with the current market. Their demand for 5 per cent this year alone is simply unrealistic and we would question how many major companies are making such an offer in the current environment.” The key elements of BT’s revised offer were as follows: A 2 per cent consolidated and pensionable pay rise from April 2010 to December 2010. * A 3 per cent consolidated and pensionable pay rise in the 2011 calendar (rather than financial) year. This equates to a 5.1 per cent rise over 21 months. * A lump sum payment for the first three months of 2010 reflecting the 2 per cent rise. This lump sum would be worth 0.5 per cent of salary. * A guaranteed bonus of £250 per team member – as per the original offer – to be paid in July 2010 rather than December 2010. * A further bonus of £250 in mid 2011 subject to BT’s performance in the 2010/11 financial year. * A guarantee of no compulsory redundancies among direct BT staff in the UK between now and the end of 2011. * A further review in October 2010 for more than 7,000 Team members that could see them typically receive an additional 5% increase in consolidated and pensionable pay. * Further exploration, with the union, to see if work carried out by third parties can be brought back in-house."