Union calls time in BBC Resources

BECTU will be instructing members in BBC Resources to stick firmly to Working Time Directive scheduling limits after talks with management floundered.

Several months of discussions on the Directive came to an end this week, with no agreement on the rights of staff to take compensatory rest if they work through new statutory breaks contained in the European legislation.

Members in Resources Directorate are due to take part in an industrial action ballot in early July. The ballot is being run to avoid any claims by BBC management that the instruction to stick to the rules on statutory breaks constitutes unofficial industrial action.

Meetings have been timetabled for main BBC buildings across the UK, where union representatives will explain the dispute to members.

See timetable of meetings

The background to the dispute is explained in a letter which has already been mailed to all BECTU members in BBC Resources.

To: All BECTU members in BBC Resources

Dear Colleagues,

Working Time Directive

I wrote to you at the end of 1998 advising you that we were still in negotiations with BBC Resources regarding the application of the Working Time Directive. The main area of contention centred on BECTU's claim that paid compensatory rest should be given to members for any infringements of their daily rest break and weekly rest break. This would be in addition to their statutory rights.

During our negotiations with BBC Resources it looked as if we were about to reach an agreement for paid compensatory rest to be taken at a time suitable to the employee in relation to the daily rest provision and that there would be provision for unpaid compensatory rest in relation to breaches of the weekly rest provisions. However BBC Resources were not prepared to extend those arrangements to members on Days conditions of service. This caused us concern because for some time Resources has attempted to move staff from Hours conditions onto Days conditions and we did not want to make Days conditions more attractive for management than they already are.

At a meeting with the management on 21st June they informed us that any arrangements they could reach for paid compensatory rest would not apply to News Resources, Post Production and Graphic Design in London, and North Region Resources. This is totally unacceptable to the union and we advised management at this meeting that if they were to confirm that position as their final offer then the union, following a successful ballot for industrial action, would instruct its members to:

1. take an 11 hour break between turns of duty;
2. always take one day off in 7;
3. work no more than an average of 48 hours per week over a 17 week period;
4. unless there was prior agreement with the union, management would not be given any special dispensation under the "broadcaster derogations" or the "foreseeable and unforeseeable surges of activity" clauses referred to in the Working Time Directive;
5. Travelling time in excess of your normal home to base to be treated as Working Time;
6. Standby to be treated as Working Time;
7. Individuals should not sign individual opt outs.

Resources management are now considering their position and we expect to have their final decision in writing within a week. If their position remains that they want staff to be available to break the daily and weekly rest provisions in the Working Time Directive without giving paid compensatory rest then we will ballot member for industrial action.

However the industrial action will only consist of working to the union's interpretation of the Directive as outlined earlier in this letter. The legislation spells out the right of an individual to be protected from victimisation as a result of exercising their rights under the Working Time laws.

BECTU has arranged a number of meetings to take place round the country. A list of these is attached for your information. Please make every effort to attend one of these meetings, and if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact either of us at BECTU Head Office. In addition the BECTU website will be continually updated.

Yours sincerely,

Voice Line: 0181 914 7578
www.bectu.org.uk

Meetings for BBC Resources members