Appraisal action starts at BBC

BBC members have been instructed to boycott annual appraisals from July 9.

The action, aimed at the BBC's performance pay system, won support in a postal ballot of BECTU members working for the BBC and BBC Technology Limited.

NUJ members also supported the boycott in a postal ballot, and began their appraisal boycott in late June.

Both unions had hoped that changes to the performance pay system would emerge from a joint management/union working party which began discussions behind closed doors late in 2000.

The initiative was proposed by the BBC after the unions called for the performance pay system to be scrapped during the 2000 annual pay talks.

By April 2001 however, the unions were expressing frustration at the lack of progress in the joint working party, and discussions terminated later that month.

A key issue leading to the breakdown was the BBC's insistence that annual appraisals would always be linked to individual performance increases.

Unions believed that this ruled out any possibility of reaching agreement on a pay system that was felt to be fair by staff, and pulled out of the talks.

Since 1995, when the current performance pay system began, staff have regularly complained to the unions that individual awards are inconsistent and often unfair. BECTU has officially denounced the performance pay scheme as "opaque, unfair, and discriminatory".

From Monday July 9, members are advised to refuse invitations from managers to attend appraisal interviews. In most areas, these annual interviews are used to set individual and group targets which form the basis of the performance pay system.

Although many members will already have been through their appraisal interviews for 2001, the unions intend to keep the boycott going until the next interview season begins in early 2002, when the action is hoped to bring the BBC's performance pay scheme to a halt.

Members in BBC Worldwide are not affected by the instruction, nor are members in BBC Resources Ltd, where separate talks on a new pay structure will begin if members accept this year's 3% pay offer.

Letter to BECTU members instructing boycott of appraisals

4th July 2001

TO:ALL BECTU MEMBERS IN THE BBC & TECHNOLOGY LTD

Dear Colleague,

INSTRUCTION FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
OVER PERFORMANCE RELATED PAY

The ballot results are as follows:

  • BBC
    Yes 69.6% No 30.4%
    Votes cast 1256
  • BBC Technology
    Yes 59.5% No 40.4%
    Votes cast 89

Given the majorities in favour of industrial action this letter is a formal instruction for you to begin the industrial action at midnight on Monday 9th July 2001.

The action will be continuous and it will take the following form:

  • A refusal to co-operate with any steps in the appraisal process, including attending appraisal interviews.
The purpose of the action is to put pressure on the BBC to bring the system of Performance Related Pay to an end. Many people will already have completed their appraisal interview for this year but the action will remain in force so that unless the BBC decides to reopen talks the appraisal process cannot begin next year.

This instruction has been posted on the BECTU website and will be sent to you at home however it will not arrive before Monday 9th July for which I apologise.

This instruction does not apply to members in Resources Limited. If you have received this letter and you are not employed by the BBC or Technology Ltd please can you email [email protected] with you name, staff number and your employer and we will amend our records.

Yours sincerely,

LUKE CRAWLEY
Supervisory Official

4 July 2001