New agreement with BBC contractor

Catering company Eurest has today agreed to recognise BECTU as the trade union for its staff working in BBC outlets.

After months of negotiations, which culminated in an agreement being signed on December 10, BECTU now represents staff employed by Eurest Corporate Accounts, one of the BBC's service partners.

The agreement covers Eurest staff working at all BBC London sites including Elstree, Kendal Avenue and other satellite sites in west London, and provides a framework for collective bargaining and pay negotiation.

BECTU is now able submit annual pay claims to the company - all pay increases to date have been company-awarded and have not been negotiated with the union.

Eurest's move to give BECTU formal recognition formalises the already constructive relationship built up between the two since the company took over catering under the BBC/LST property partnership in November 2001.