BBC offers 2.6% pay increase

BBC unions are planning to ballot members on a pay offer of 2.6%, with a minimum increase of £500 for each member of staff.

If accepted, the offer will take effect from 1 August. BECTU, NUJ and AEEU are making no recommendation to members on acceptance or rejection of the offer.

The 2.6% increase will be applied to basic pay rates, and all associated allowances including UPAs and London Weighting.

As well as the pay increase, the offer contains proposals on several non-pay issues. These include a new code of practice on sick pay, an extension of the pension scheme special discount arrangements and the 5-month notice period of redundancies, more money for training, and a promise that pay bargaining for staff in Resources Directorate will not be split away from the main BBC pay round next year, without full talks with the unions first.

Read sick pay code of practice

In addition, the BBC has committed itself to Directorate level discussions on the use of fixed term contracts - an issue which at one stage threatened to derail this year's pay talks.

In presenting the pay offer, the BBC said it had taken account of the Licence Fee review which is being conducted by the government, and the rate of inflation - currently 1.6%. The union claim this year was for a substantial increase above inflation.

One part of the union claim that the BBC has not responded to was the demand that senior management should not be given increases higher than staff. This followed anger throughout the Corporation at John Birt's 9.2% pay rise last year.

However, the unions have reserved the right to challenge the BBC's executive pay policy if the Annual Report, due to be published in June, reveals a repeat of the generous handouts given to top managers last year.

BECTU is planning to start a ballot of its BBC members on May 21, with a closing date of 9 June.

Click here for full details of the BBC offer