BT Accused Of Forcing Workers Into Dirty And Unhygienic Conditions

Delegates at this year's annual CWU Conference in Bournemouth heard evidence of worsening working conditions within BT's telephone exchanges, and other parts of the estate around the country.

The issue has never been resolved as yet by BT, despite the many years of the Union's represenation having been made at all management levels within the blue chip company over the issue of cleanliness, hygiene and werlfare facilities such as toilets and fresh drinking water. It was left to delegates to highglight during the Health & SAfety section debates of this year's General Conference agenda.

No doubt, the BT management observers at the Conference, did their usual disappearing act during the Union's annual conference debate on Health and Safety within the company. At least that has been the norm for many years of this correspondent's experience.

In an excellent Conference Report, Derek Maylor, NW BTU Health & Safety Co-ord Chairperson; told Unionsafety:

"The conference safety section opened expressing concern that BT [and other employers] are not maintaining the standards of cleanliness and hygiene within their estate. This means that BT are treating members with complete disrespect expecting them to work in "dirty conditions" with facilities that are at times unhygienic. We have had reports of welfare and toilet facilities in disgraceful conditions, a lack of a thorough cleaning regime and the provision of drinking water not to the statutory standard.

The NEC were instructed to seek feedback via a survey from Branches based upon safety inspections to identify those premises that appears to be failing acceptable standards, within three months of the close of conference, and to open discussions with BT to agree and instigate action to remedy those shortcomings in standards within six months of the close of conference."

Source: Unionsafety / Derek Maylor

Download Derek's full conference report here

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