BBC pay talks adjourned

Negotiations on this year's BBC pay claim were adjourned after a nine-hour meeting on June 6.

BECTU, the NUJ, and AEEU, are waiting for management to produce a written version of the pay offer, and are also hoping for clarification of a proposal affecting fixed-term contract staff.

No details will be released until the unions have checked that the written offer matches the proposals made by management at the June 6 meeting. BECTU representatives are expected to consider the final document at a meeting on June 14, and NUJ chapel representatives are likely to meet soon after.

The joint union claim was presented to the BBC on May 23, and called for an increase "substantially above" inflation, as well as several improvements in conditions of service.

At the time, the unions highlighted the BBC's windfall income over the next two years, after the government decision to reverse cuts in the licence fee which were put in place under the last Conservative administration.

However, the BBC's approach to this year's pay talks was expected to be as cautious as ever because the Corporation has said it needs to save much of the windfall money as a cushion against a potential cash crisis that could occur within three to four years.