999 call handlers to strike again on Monday in Northern Ireland in BT dispute

Over 2,000 BT and Openreach workers are to return to picket lines in Northern Ireland again on Monday as strike action by members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) continues.
By Niall Deeney
Published 7th Oct 2022, 17:25 BST
Staff at the 999 Call Handling centre in Portadown, which deals with emergency calls from across Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are on strike today over pay. This centre dealt with calls during the Grenfell fire and Manchester bombings.Staff at the 999 Call Handling centre in Portadown, which deals with emergency calls from across Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are on strike today over pay. This centre dealt with calls during the Grenfell fire and Manchester bombings.
Staff at the 999 Call Handling centre in Portadown, which deals with emergency calls from across Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are on strike today over pay. This centre dealt with calls during the Grenfell fire and Manchester bombings.

Emergency 999 call handlers are set to take part in the strike action for the second time, having chosen not to take part in previous walkouts.

Northern Ireland CWU representative Erin Massey, in a note issued to the press on Friday, said: “Our 2,200 members here in Northern Ireland in both Openreach and BT are determined more than ever to stay out until BT come back to negotiate with us to date they have completely ignored our offers to talk.

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Referring to the 999 call handlers, she said: “These members work under extreme pressure, taking these 999 emergency calls and in a split second have to switch from an emergency call – no matter how traumatising - instantly on to a directory enquiry call from one of around 80 other OLO’s (other license operators).”

She added: ”They do all of this and earn around £21,500 per annum which is ridiculously low, leaving some of them to rely on foodbanks.”

Earlier this week, a BT Group spokesperson said: “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”.

Related topics:Northern IrelandCommunication Workers UnionOpenreach