The first of two days of strike action from BT and Openreach workers took place in Glasgow today.
From the early hours of this morning, hundreds made their way to BT buildings around the city to form picket lines as a result of an ongoing dispute over pay.
Across the UK, 40,000 Communications Workers Union (CWU) engineers and call centre workers within the company have walked out.
The CWU said it is the first national telecoms strike since 1987 and the biggest ever among call centre workers.
One worker outside the Alexander Bain House on York Street said: “There comes a time when you have to take a stand.
“In the current climate people are struggling to pay their bills and they’re struggling to survive.
"It's absolutely scandalous."
It’s a view shared by councillor Matt Kerr and Chris Stephens MP, who spoke of the disconnect between a rise in profits reported by BT Group CEO Philip Jansen this week and the 'below inflation rate' pay rise imposed on workers.
Another person in attendance at the strike spoke of the devastating impact that the rising cost of living is already having on staff within offices in Glasgow.
They said "we don’t want to be here today", adding: "What we’ve been given isn’t enough for people to survive on.
“The cost-of-living crisis is just doubling and doubling.
“We all try to help each other and bring in our own snacks throughout the day to make sure no one is sitting there all day without something to eat.
“That’s the position that we’re in.”
Later in the morning, a celebratory cheer rang out from the crowd as RMT workers bearing flags joined the group to stand in solidarity.
Dave Moxham, deputy general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, spoke of recent rail strikes and warned that we can expect the same across other sectors unless changes are made.
He said: “I think people are saying enough is enough.
“Striking isn’t an easy choice, but it’s a necessary one that we’re seeing across railways, we will see in local governments and we’re seeing here with BT today.
“That’s the way things are going to go until the powers that be recognise that a little less profit is good for workers and good for the economy.”
A further strike by BT and Openreach workers will take place on Monday.
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