Pay deal averts BT strike

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) have announced that they have agreed a pay deal with BT and so will not be taking industrial action.

The deal with BT sees workers recieve a 9.3% pay rise over 39 months after the two sides failed to reach agreement on a one or two-year deal.

BT had previously offered a 5.1% rise over 21 months and the CWU had wanted a 5% rise for 2010-11 alone.

"This agreement is good for BT, its employees, shareholders and customers. BT will benefit from a long period of certainty whilst our employees will have financial stability during uncertain economic times,” said BT chief executive Ian Livingston.

The CWU, which represents 55,000 BT workers including engineers and call centre workers, will now hold a consultative ballot of its members recommending that they endorse the deal in the coming weeks.