By a BT engineer BT ENGINEERS in the Communication Workers" Union who work in the streets have voted to strike against management plans to force them to work alone or up poles in the dark.
It is the first ever vote by BT engineers for nations ac tion on a safety issue.
radionaily. Bi exicknal' engineers worked in daylight hours. BT recently altered hours to as late as 8.5vpm. in te winier, this will mean working up to five hours in the dark.
All trials and training for engineers take place in day. light. Floodlighting equipment used for working in darkness entails working in multiplying chances of falls and injuries.
Working alone in the dark makes engineers more vulnerable to injury or attack: police use of 'BT' vehicles for surveillance means engincers are seen by some as fair game for assault. Injured staff can lie in after an assault or injury.
Refused
Even so. the Health and sarcy Executie mas crusco to intervene on the workers' behall until there is a serous accident. The dangers are so clear to engineers, however, that the vote for strike action proposed the form of action taken should be refusing to use the floodlighting. This leaves open the question of working alone in the dark, except perhaps in some "exclu. sion zones'.
his vital that the unsor presses home its case by insisting on both demands being met in full.
20p • Issue I| • 50¢ • 2FF • IDM • 500 lire • IOBF • fl