BBC Resources ballot on new offer

BBC Resources members are to be balloted on revised management proposals on their future.

The Corporation’s TV facilities subsidiary BBC Resources Ltd, which now consists of London Studios and Post Production departments following the sale of Outside Broadcasts to Satellite Information Services, is facing an uncertain future.

The BBC has said it intends to close Television Centre in 2012 and has not ruled out the sale of Post Production.

Sports and Childrens production departments are also planned to move from Television Centre to Salford by 2012.

BECTU declared a dispute with the BBC after the Outside Broadcasts sale, when it emerged that the Post Production department could be sold off separately without the full range of pension and contractual guarantees given to OB staff, and if they remained in-house could face cut-down redundancy packages when Television Centre closes, along with colleagues in Studios.

These latest proposals would mean that staff over 55, made redundant as a result of the Television Centre closure, or the move of BBC departments to Salford, will be given enhanced pensions.

SIS, the new owners of Outside Broadcasts, began recruiting new staff only days after completing their purchase, in the first major hiring exercise seen in the unit for several years.

Amended 5 November 2010. For further information contact BECTU Head Office.