Millennium row fixed

A row over BBC Millennium working has been resolved following discussions with Corporation management.

Since the agreement on working over the New Year period had been confirmed by a ballot of BBC union members there has been a number of difficulties getting certain departments to confirm wether staff could have leave or not, and agreeing when standby payments were appropriate.

Corporate BBC management have now confirmed that with effect from today (15 July), staff who applied for leave for 31 December 1999 or 1 January 2000 before 31 March, and for whom it has been refused, will have two options if they are not subsequently required for work or scheduled on standby on either of these two days:

• Remain available for work on a standby basis and receive the £100 standby payment; or
• Take leave for which they had originally applied.

Other staff, who have been refused leave, should have been told by today whether they will be required to work over the New Year period, and where possible, either confirming that they will be working, on standby or granting the leave request.