Unions put BBC deal to members

All three staff unions are to run consultative ballots among BBC members on a new pay offer.

A meeting of representatives from BECTU, NUJ, and Amicus held on July 7 decided to put the improved 2.9% offer straight to members, without recommending whether or not it should be accepted.

BBC management had tabled the new deal a week earlier in an effort to head off an industrial action ballot, and made the offer conditional on unions making "a positive, or at least neutral, recommendation."

Although members are not being advised which way to vote, the deal is being described by unions as "the best that can be achieved through negotiation" - a clear signal that negotiators do not expect it to be improved by a simple vote to reject.

Union officials were today making arrangements for their postal ballots to begin, but the timetable had not yet been determined.

However, all three unions are hoping to close their polls before the August 1 anniversary date. Union members in Worldwide, Technology, and Resources have already settled their annual pay increase for the year, and will not take part in the ballot.