2.8% rise accepted in BBC Resources

BECTU members in BBC Resources Ltd have voted to accept a 2.8% pay increase in a postal ballot.

The rise, which takes effect on April 1 2004, was accepted by 71% of members who voted in the ballot. Participation among the members covered by the pay offer was 46%.

In addition to the 2.8% increase in salaries, which will also represent the minimum increase paid this year to staff on Special Fixed Salaries, the package included improvements in pay and job security for trainees, who will now be employed on permanent contracts, rather than the fixed-term two-year contracts which have been used for several years.

As part of the pay offer, management agreed to enter discussions with the union about the syllabus for trainees, and to revive talks about reinstating payscales based on rate-for-the-job for all staff.

BBC Resources Ltd, is one of the BBC's five main subsidiary companies, and has conducted pay bargaining separately from the BBC since 2001.

BECTU last week tabled a 5% pay claim at BBC Worldwide Ltd, another subsidiary, where the pay anniversary date is July 1.