Inequality of pay has been smoothed over by BT following the possibility of industrial action. The chief executive, Ian Livingston, saw his bonus more than triple last year, taking his total pay package, including shares, above £3m — while the workforce were initially offered a 2% pensionable pay rise from April 2010 and a 3% rise from January 2011. The union had previously demanded a 5% rise for 2010/11 alone. The company had also offered lump sum payments worth up to £500 for each team member but these have now been removed given the revised 3% terms agreed over 39 months.