3% rise agreed at BBC

BECTU and NUJ members have voted by a large margin to accept this year's pay offer.

The 3% increase, with a minimum rise of £500 for all staff, will be paid in August salaries, after being accepted in postal ballots by members of both unions. BBC Worldwide has already settled on a 2.9% increase.

More than 90% of members participating in the ballots voted in favour of the offer - a significant majority which the unions believe vindicated the negotiators' decision to recommend acceptance.

Both unions had described the percentage rise as "disappointing", but argued that the package offer tabled by management included many non-cash benefits that were worth having.

Among these are a promise of permanent jobs for most contract staff after three years employment, and a complete review of the controversial appraisal and performance pay structure.

Resources Ltd staff were included in this year's BBC pay round for the time year before the company begins separate pay negotiations. They will not be covered by the review of the pay system because Resources Ltd plan to introduce new conditions of service some time in the Autumn.