BT Group PLC (LSE:BT.A) boss Philip Jansen suggested the telecoms company could offer workers more pay amid a long-running dispute over salaries.
Jansen said on a 'town hall' video call to staff this week that the government's energy bills support scheme launched in September could allow an increase to pay.
This was a U-turn from his previous all-staff video in June, when he blamed surging energy bills and other costs for the company's reluctance to increase pay.
Unions said BT “imposed” a 5% pay rise in August, below UK inflation that was near 10% and 3% lower than an offer made in April.
"Now that we know that the extra energy costs are capped at £200mln until the end of March – I didn't know that in April – I know we will do something. It will be targeted at those who need it most," he said this week, according to excerpts of the call seen by Bloomberg.
Some 40,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) at BT and Openreach last month went on strike for two days in the pay dispute, following a similar walkout in August.
Last Friday, the CWU said BT had agreed to re-enter pay negotiations, with the company having admitted that the industrial action was having some effect on business operations.
In a note to its members, reported by The Register, the union said that the "overwhelming strike action that you have taken in your fight for a fair pay rise in making a different. It has got us back into discussions with BT this week with as view to seeking a resolution to our dispute."
"We are in the process of setting up further meetings with the company next week," the message adds. "We have called a meeting of your local branch official so we can get their feedback about next steps ifs our talks fail to meet an acceptable way forward."