1998 BBC pay ballot

BBC union members are being balloted about this year's pay offer, and are urged to reject the 'unacceptable' offer.

Consultative ballot papers have distributed to all BECTU, NUJ and AEEU members in the BBC. The joint unions' claim for a 9% increase to basic rates and associated allowances, along with a minimum increase of £900, met with an offer from Corporation management which included:

• Basic pay increase of 4% subject to a minimum of £500.
• London Weighting Allowance to increase from £2500 to £2600.
• For Days Conditions staff UPA1 to increase from £1778 to £1850, and UPA2 to increase from £3556 to £3700.
• The BBC claim that they will be putting 1% of the wage bill into increments, bonuses and performance related pay.

The unions told the BBC on 13 July this offer was unacceptable because:

• The rate of inflation was currently 4.2%
• Average wage settlements across industry are 5.2%
• The BBC has received a increase in the licence fee of 6.6%
• BBC Director General John Birt has received a salary increase of 9%. The executive managers have received on average salary increase of greater than 7%
• The BBC achieved £14million more in efficiency savings than projected.

In a letter to union members accompanying ballot papers, senior BECTU, NUJ and AEEU negotiators write: "If the BBC are not prepared to give an increase above the rate of inflation in a year when their income has risen by almost twice the rate of inflation then there is little chance of getting a fair settlement when the licence fee is linked to inflation. It is also unacceptable that a small number of senior managers can tell thousands of employees that they have to show restraint generally while they themselves are happy to copy the fat cats of industry".

The ballot is a consultative ballot, and is not a legal ballot for industrial action, and closes at 1200 on 17 August 1998.