17 August pay ballot deadline

The consultative pay ballot, covering all BECTU, NUJ and AEEU members in the BBC, closes on Monday 17 August.

Members who have not voted so far are reminded to return their ballot forms as soon as possible. Union members are being urged to reject the BBC's offer of 4% on basic rates subject to a minimum of £500.

This was in response to the unions' claim for a 9% increase to basic rates along with a minimum increase of £900.

Members are being urged to reject the Corporation's offer, and vote in favour of an industrial action campaign, because:

• BBC Director General John Birt received a salary increase of 9%.

• Average wage settlements across industry have been running at 5.2%

• The BBC has received an increase in the licence fee of 6.6%

• The BBC achieved £14million more in efficiency savings than projected in the last year.

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