Communications Workers Union members protest at BT working conditions

The Solent branch of the Communications Workers Union (CWU), who represent BT workers, organised two protests to stand up to the company’s management.

The CWU claim that they have been inundated with calls from workers who say they are being set unrealistic targets by management in a bid to force them to quit their jobs.

The union believes that BT are trying to turn the hands of employees to resign so the company can refrain from making job cuts in the economic downturn.

On Saturday, around 150 people descended on Southampton High Street to protest against the working conditions of clerical assistants, engineers and control workers.

The second protest arranged for this Saturday in Bournemouth is expected to attract union support from across England.

Branches of the trade union are expected to attend from as far north as Leicester alongside supporters from London and Birmingham.

Gary Williams, Branch Secretary, CWU Solent, said: “One of the problems is each manager sets their own targets.

“This means that some people are given one target and other groups of workers doing similar jobs are set different more difficult targets.

“It all seems to be part of the process to remove people from the company, rather than make job cuts they prefer to manage people out.”

A BT spokesman refused to comment on the protest held in Southampton, but said: “Our company procedures provide for the necessary support to enable our people to be the best they can to meet the changing expectations of our customers.”