Society of Telecom Executives
Industrial action suspended 20 May 1997

On 20 May 1997, STE General Secretary, Simon Petch sent the following letter to all STE members, suspending the STE's industrial action over our pay claim for 1997:

Dear Colleague Action suspended as negotiations commence Following the sustained campaign of industrial action and the three day selective strike action in London, BT and the STE have agreed to commence negotiations on pay. In order to give these negotiations the best possible chance of succeeding the STE is suspending the industrial action. Members should start to work normally from midday, Wednesday 21 May 1997. The pay campaign which started in November 1996 and which you and your colleagues have supported has resulted in the company increasing the amount of money available for the MPG pay review and has, without doubt, increased the degree of openness in many parts of the business. The company hasn't gone far enough and that is why it is essential that we can negotiate enduring pay arrangements. A key input to these negotiations will be the results of both the STE pay survey and a survey to be conducted by BT on the implementation of 1997 pay. We are therefore encouraging members receiving the BT questionnaire to complete it and to do so as accurately as possible. A focus of the negotiations will be to try to establish enduring pay arrangements for the future, avoiding the need for an annual confrontation on pay. Our policy is outlined in the STE booklet - MPG pay - setting standards for the future a manifesto for change - sent to you at home earlier this year. Discussions will also be taking place with the aim of establishing a more constructive relationship between the STE and BT. Having implemented 1997 pay, BT is resistant to making any retrospective changes. However, the STE will be raising concerns about the implementation which need to be rectified. It is only through your efforts and determination that BT has now decided to return to the negotiating table. However, although restarting the negotiations is a necessary first step to getting the settlement you have all worked so hard for, we need to emphasise that the dispute is not over yet. The industrial action has been suspended; if negotiations fail then it will restart. We are hopeful that through these negotiations you will get the open, fair and honest pay arrangements which you deserve. Should the negotiations be successful the STE Executive Council would bring a recommendation for a settlement to a Special Conference of the union. Thank you for your support which has enabled us to return to the negotiating table. Those of you who are contributing to the solidarity fund will wish to know that we are also suspending payments to the solidarity fund. Yours sincerely, Simon Petch, General Secretary

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Page last updated 3 June 1997.

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