Today will see the Communication Workers Union send out ballot papers to its members which include in excess of 50,000 BT employees with a view to balloting on the offered 2% pay rise offered by BT although the union has demanded a 5% pay increase.

According to an article by Georgina Prodhan, over on Reuters; the deputy general secretary of the CWU gave an interview to the Financial Times and stated that the CWU is willing to organise “a lengthy strike” if needs be; however, they could come to a compromise on a pay deal of less that the aforementioned 5%.

The CWU informing the media that they are prepared to compromise on their 5% claim apparently comes as a surprise to BT that says at no time have the CWU formally put forward an alternate proposal.

British Telecom also says that “given this we call on the union to postpone the ballot and return to formal discussions with the company.” However, as yet the CWU has not made any comment on BT’s proposal to return to formal discussion or delaying the ballot.