BBC strike ballot opens

Ballot papers went out on 4 December to all members working at the BBC asking them to vote for strike action in the new year.

BECTU was given no alternative other than to ballot its members after the BBC refused to give any ground over Director General Mark Thompson's plans to cut a total of 2,500 jobs, stop the Unpredictability Allowance for new employees from 1 January and make changes to the Corporation's pension scheme.

Following a trawl for volunteers to come forward to take redundancy, results showed that in the two worst-hit divisions of News and Vision two very different pictures emerged. In News more than the required number had expressed an interest in taking redundancy. However, the management in News, while not moving to selection for compulsory redundancies, would not rule it out.

In Vision, by contrast, there were around 303 volunteers as opposed to 440 post closures, but the BBC immediately announced that it would begin to select for compulsory redundancy. It refused to say whether volunteers would be accepted or rejected and BECTU believes that the trawl for volunteers was an academic exercise as Vision has a history of refusing volunteers and trying to dismiss staff they do not want instead.

The proposal to no longer pay Unpredictability Allowances (UPAs) to new staff will affect many members who are not under threat of redundancy. If the BBC is able to force through this change without negotiations BECTU believes this will give it carte blanche to try and remove UPA payments in the future, particularly since existing staff will be much more expensive than new staff if this change goes through.

Luke Crawley, Assistant General Secretary said: "The BBC is trying to force through these proposals and start sacking our members. We want the BBC to come back to the negotiating table and talk seriously about how to avoid these job cuts. The changes in UPA and pensions will affect thousands of members and we need a good turnout and big majority for strike action to send a clear message to the BBC.

“Ultimately, it is the licence fee payers who are the ones who will suffer as programme quality declines and I hope they will support our members if the ballot leads to a strike, which is looking extremely likely."

Helen Ryan, Supervisory Official for the BBC said: "We find it unacceptable that the BBC has invited staff to take voluntary redundancy, when in fact they are cherry-picking staff they want to stay. It makes a mockery of the voluntary process and the assurances they have given to the unions."

She continued: "Ultimately, BECTU wants staff to be treated fairly and above all ensure that remaining staff do not suffer stress and ill health because they are doing the work of several people."

The ballot closes on 9 January. If members vote 'yes' for strike action, this could take place as early as 17 January.