Mobile phone staff reject pay offer

Workers at mobile phone giant 02 in Britain have overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer, raising the threat of industrial action, it was announced today.

The Communication Workers Union said its members voted by 2,684 to 111, a majority of 96%, against a proposed pay deal.

The union warned that if the pay offer was not improved, an industrial action ballot will be held.

CWU officer Dave Johnson said: “The message from our members is clear – they are fed up, frustrated and furious that in O2’s most successful year they are being denied a basic pay rise.

“It is clearly beyond their comprehension that the O2 board can afford to pay themselves huge salaries and bonuses whilst denying them a cost of living increase. This obscene state of affairs is totally unacceptable.”

The union said that under the pay offer, workers previously employed by BT would receive no increase.