BBC appraisal ban stepped up

BBC members have been urged to intensify their protest against performance pay.

Since a ballot last year, BECTU and NUJ members working at the BBC have been refusing to co-operate with annual appraisals, as part of a campaign against the Corporation's performance pay system.

BECTU has now written to members at the start of the annual appraisal timetable reminding them that the boycott is still in place.

No move has been made by the BBC to settle the performance pay dispute since the boycott was announced last year, and members are once again being asked to decline any interviews where targets and personal performance are likely to be discussed.

Members are, however, free to their individual training needs and career development.

The unions hope that the continuing disruption of the BBC's appraisal procedures will help to re-open talks about an alternative pay structure that collapsed without agreement more than a year ago.

Letter to BECTU members in BBC and BBC Technology Ltd.

FOR NOTICE BOARDS
BBC DIVISIONAL LETTER 2476

5 March 2002

PRP and appraisal

Since we are currently in the middle of what would normally be the appraisal season, I am writing to remind you to keep up the boycott. We know it is causing problems for the BBC by the number of telephone calls we receive at Head Office saying that the management are trying to get around it one way or another. The BBC know that their goal of achieving IIP status is under threat:

So, don't forget:

  • Do not agree to discuss last year's targets with your manager
  • Do not agree to discuss next year's targets with your manager
  • Do politely remind your manager that you would be prepared to talk about these things when the BBC has solved the problem of PRP
  • Do discuss your training needs and career development
If you are an appraiser as well as an appraisee then remember you are covered by the industrial action ballot, and this means that you should politely tell your manager that:

  • You will not be drafting any appraisals this year
  • You will not be asking your staff to attend any appraisal interviews this year
For reference, the original instruction said:

"A refusal to co-operate with any steps in the appraisal process..."

As previously stated, this does not apply to members in Resources Ltd or Worldwide Ltd.

Please photocopy this Divisional Letter and distribute it widely. There should be an electronic version on our website at www.bectu.org.uk

LUKE CRAWLEY
Supervisory Official

5 March 2002