TELECOMS giant BT is facing the prospect of its first national strike in more than 20 years in a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced today that it is holding a consultative ballot among its members, which could lead to a further vote on industrial action.

The move follows what the union describes as an “increasingly aggressive“ approach from management, and raises the “very real prospect” of the first national strike in BT since 1994.