The Stage

BBC staff face strike ballot

Published Monday 10 July 2006 at 16:55 by Liz Thomas

Broadcasting unions Bectu, the NUJ and Amicus have voted unanimously to ballot their members at the BBC immediately for industrial action, following a meeting about changes to the Corporation pension scheme, a below inflation pay offer and the continued threat of redundancies.

Senior representatives of the three unions made the decision today [Monday] but had warned that balloting staff about striking would be likely after Friday’s annual report revealed that top level executives at the BBC had received bumper pay boosts.

The unions are against proposals to move the retirement age from 60 to 65, increase the staff contribution from 6 to 9%, and introduce a ‘career average’ pension for new staff. There is also anger at the offer of a 2.6% pay offer at a time when inflation is 3% for staff and the threat of more than 2,000 job cuts in the coming two years.

Bectu assistant general secretary Gerry Morrissey said: “BBC management has demonstrated unbelievable hypocrisy in awarding themselves huge pay increases and bonuses while at the same time undermining and devaluing the package of pay and pensions for those staff who have so far avoided compulsory redundancy. I have no doubt that our members will respond with an overwhelming yes vote for strike action and the ball is now firmly back in the court of the director general.”

The Corporation will receive formal notice of the ballot on July 13, ballot papers will be issued on July 20 and the ballot will close on August 3. If members vote yes, a response union officials are confident of, then strikes could begin from August 10. Last year industrial action interrupted some news and current affairs programming and forced some shows to be recorded in ITV studios.