Resources Regions proposals

Proposals have been made to change BBC Resources Ltd conditions outside of London.

BBC management are proposing to bring all BBC Resources Ltd areas across the UK into line with London based departmental conditions and expenses policy.

The proposal to withdraw from current local conditions agreements covers Resources Ltd staff based in BBC Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast and Newcastle.

It is proposed these areas introduce the conditions and expenses policy in force in London based Resources Ltd departments, which include Television Studios, Post Production, Outside Broadcasts and Graphics.

These arrangements where introduced following a ballot in August which resulted in the ending of industrial action carried out to oppose management attempting to unilaterally impose conditions changes.

However a number of related conditions problems in London areas, including transport arrangements, have still to be resolved.

The departments in BBC Resources Ltd outside of London covered by the proposals include Post Production, Central Technical Areas and Graphics (branded as MediaArc).

At the meeting with management, at which the proposals were tabled, a number of initial points were made by BECTU Representatives from areas outside of London - including:

• Impact on compensatory leave.
• Use of non-scheduled days.
• Implications of stopping short term acting payments.
• Late night transport trigger time of 2230 compared to 2245 in London.

It was also clarified that it is proposed a number of staff based in Manchester move from an annualised hours system to a 4/4/5 week accounting period pattern.

The union is consulting with members on the proposals, and it is expected a further meeting with management will take place in around three weeks time.