threat Ву а BT worker THE LONDON council of the NCU has called on the telecoms union NEC to organise a strike ballot over new moves to cut jobs.
BT plans to remove 1100 engineers from its 'core' workforce, while simultaneously introducing 150 contractors to cover engineering work.
Those removed from the core workforce will be counselled to take the company's voluntary redundancy package, and their long term future is unclear.
In response to the strike call BT managing director Michael Hepher has promised no compulsory redundancies in '94-5. But since BT is 'restructuring' its workforce, compulsory redundancies will come if voluntary redundancies are not taken up.
Board Left supporters who control the union's NEC have promised support for the strike ballot.
But preoccupied with the proposed merger with the UCW, the union leadership has shown little urgency. The committee will can authorise the ballot meets on 8 February.