BBC pay rise goes ahead

The BBC will pay a 2.8% increase in August despite objections.

At a meeting on July 11 union representatives heard that the BBC plans to implement a pay rise that was accepted by members of BECTU, but rejected by journalists belonging to the NUJ.

The NUJ remains officially "in dispute" with the BBC after its members voted against the 2-year pay offer by a margin of 70%, but BECTU and the electricians' union Amicus, both of whose members accepted the rise, have won an assurance that all staff will receive the increase as scheduled next month.

BECTU and Amicus are now on standby to participate in discussions about re-instating the "rate-for-the-job" in the BBC's pay system, and separate talks about Unpredictability Allowances - commitments that were part of the pay package..

NUJ negotiators have called for a meeting with the BBC under the auspices of ACAS, the government conciliation service, where they hope to demand guarantees on the future of UPAs, and improvements in payments for night working. If the BBC agrees to an ACAS-sponsored meeting, both BECTU and Amicus are likely to attend as observers, but neither union expects any shift in the position of BBC management.

Night working, anti-social hours, and the protection of staff working unpredictably, are all due to be on the agenda of talks about UPA and rate for the job which BECTU and Amicus now expect to join following their acceptance of the 2002 pay package.

However, BECTU has warned the BBC that it will defend its members' interests by dropping out of the talks and balloting for action if changes in UPA payments are forced through without agreement.

BECTU's boycott of appraisal interviews in the BBC has been lifted, following the management's confirmation that the 2.8% increase would be paid on time. Unions are hoping that the promised discussions on "rate-for-the-job" will lead to the BBC abandoning the link between a controversial performance pay system introduced in 1995, and the annual appraisal interview in which staff discuss professional achievements and training needs with line managers.

Staff in BBC Broadcast Ltd are included in the central BBC's 2002 offer of 2.8% in August, with a minimum rise equal to inflation in August 2003, increased by 0.5% if the talks on UPA and rate-for-job have made progress.

Members working for BBC Technology, which now conducts pay negotiations separately from the central BBC, have accepted a pay offer which is almost identical, except for a shift in anniversary dates meaning that their next increase in April 2004, not August 2004.

Worldwide Ltd and Resources Ltd have paid different increases this year due to their separate bargaining arrangements.