999 call handlers to go on strike in Northern Ireland tomorrow, says trade union

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in call centres across the UK are walking out on Thursday, with further strikes planned for October 10, 20 and 24.

A spokesperson for the union said: "These strikes include the 30,000 Openreach engineers and 10,000 BT call centre workers who have taken action in previous months in opposition to BT Group management’s imposition of an incredibly low flat-rate pay rise of just £1,500."

Northern Ireland union representative Erin Massey confirmed the intention of 999 call handlers to take part in the strike, saying: "It was not an easy ask to request our 999 staff to come out in solidarity but, they are coming out in large numbers, although they understand the importance of their roll to the public.

"They also fully disagree with the contempt shown to them by the Company who can dish out millions of profits to themselves in pay raises and bonuses including the shareholders. Yet they can’t give their employees a decent pay rise, plus they choose to ignore the Union and the agreement’s we had with them and instead impose a measly 2% , which is in fact a pay cut when measured against the cost of living increases."

A BT Group spokesperson said: “We know that our colleagues are dealing with the impacts of high inflation and, whilst we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action, we are profoundly disappointed that the CWU is prepared to take this reckless course of action by including 999 services in strikes.

“We will do whatever it takes to protect 999 services – redeploying our people to the most important priority is a normal part of BT Group operations.

“We made the best pay award we could in April and we have held discussions with the CWU to find a way forward from here. In the meantime, we will continue to work to minimise any disruption and keep our customers and the country connected”.

The News Letter has contacted the Department of Health at Stormont, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland for comment.