Union summit to debate BBC pay offer

This year's BBC pay offer is due to be presented next Monday, 17 May, to a meeting of union representatives from across the Corporation.

Delegates belonging to BECTU, the NUJ, and AEEU will consider the BBC's response to their claim for a substantial increase including a minimum rise of £1000 for each member of staff.

The meeting will decide whether to run a ballot of members on the offer, and whether to recommend acceptance or rejection. At the moment the BBC has not drafted any pay offer in writing, although union negotiators have been briefed on the Corporations's room for manoeuvre - the claim for a minimum payment is thought to be a sticking point on the management side, and a demand for short contract staff to be made permanent after four years instead of the current five, is also thought to have provoked debate amongst managers.

A final offer was originally expected by the unions on Tuesday May 11, but for the second time in this year's pay talks, the deadline was missed. From the start of the 1999 discussions, union negotiators expected a tough time in a year when the BBC is likely to keep the quoted percentage increase as low as it can to avoid bad publicity while the licence fee is under review.

The claim for a generous minimum payment was intended to ensure significant improvements for staff without inflating the headline increase. However, the unions are still looking for a good percentage rise following the row last year over the 9.2% increase given to Director-General John Birt, which led to industrial action.

Union representatives are planning to issue a statement after the summit meeting on May 17.