Letter to Branches

To All Branches with Members Working in the BT Group

Dear Colleague

BT Mobile Worker Payment Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Further to LTB 493/05 and BOB paragraph # 665, it has been brought to our attention that individuals who have exercised their right to opt-out of the Mobile Worker Payment scheme have received an email sent over the name of Kevin Brady, HR Director for Reward & Employee Relations dated 17 November 2005.

A copy of his note is attached for ease of reference.

It is worth restating the union’s view about the Mobile Worker Payment.

We believe that it is a Salary Sacrifice scheme too far.  There are certainly implications for members of the BTRP.  We are also concerned that the tax-exempt status of these benefits may change in the future, which would affect all tax payers. We do not believe that the increase in take-home pay is “significant”.

There are other elements in Mr Brady’s note that give us cause for concern and we will be meeting with BT to address these in the near future.

Given that HMRC (the Inland Revenue) has indicated that an annual reaccreditation process is necessary, we clearly need to understand how BT intends to deal with that issue.

Branches are asked to advise members that the email address referred to in Mr Brady’s letter will NOT accept requests to opt-outs.

Please remember that opt-outs must be received by Accenture HR Services no later than 25 November 2005.

Any queries on this LTB should be directed to my office at CWU Head Office (ssapper@cwu.org).

Yours sincerely

Simon Sapper

Assistant Secretary

 

Click here for attachment Letter from BT