National, regional, and local .... it all matters

This month's union journal, Stage Screen and Radio, features a well-deserved cover story on the campaigning success of the Electricians branch.

Strong organisation and good communication has led to a renewed belief by the group in their ability to promote their interests.

Unfortunately, the branch's effective strategy has prompted a push back by the employers and a dispute has been on-going for some three weeks now. The electricians want to secure agreement on, and industry recognition, of a daily rate of £220. PACT, the producer's organisation, is resisting BECTU's claims and talks at ACAS last week failed to achieve a breakthrough. Despite this, a resolution has to be found. Talks with both the BBC and ITV will take place during the next week.

Developments at ITV are a constant concern for BECTU's members, of course. Consultations with the company on job losses at YTV, Granada and in London are well advanced. However, at talks last week with Andy Burnham, culture secretary, ITV's abandonment of regional news was on the agenda.

It seems that all parties now understand that finding money for ITV to sustain its regional news operation is not the question; ITV has lost interest in regional news in preference for a full-on chase for mass appeal. If this is fact, then how do we test Ofcom's proposal, aired in its latest PSB Review statement, for the disbursement of funds to other producers keen to restore good health to regional news? BECTU and NUJ reps were pleased to learn of the DCMS's support for a pilot exercise.

BECTU has underlined the importance of properly resourced, quality output, to promote and sustain investment in broadcasting jobs in the regions. It is possible that we will hear more about these developments when Lord Carter makes a further announcement on Digital Britain in mid-June.

Looking closer at hand, the joint unions meet with the BBC to discuss the 2009/10 staff pay review later this week. The joint claim for a flat rate increase for all staff of £1800 was submitted at a point in the year when inflation was over 2 percent. RPI is now running at minus 1.25%. We'll have some talking to do.

The inflationary, or deflationary fallout from the recession, is one element of the downturn of course. Will our sectors face large-scale recession-caused, job losses? To date, this is not in evidence and our hope is that our employers and members will have sufficient time to respond to the change in the economy to head this off. The Birmingham March for Jobs on 16 May  was a success but we need to know how the Government is responding to calls for help for ordinary people. Sadly, the MPs expenses furore has someway to run in the press. The TUC is to produce a monthly report on the effects of the recession. We'll keep you posted on how our members are being affected.