BBC pay offer accepted

The BBC pay offer of 3.5% has been accepted by BECTU following a ballot of members.

BECTU members participating in the ballot voted by a majority of 97% to accept the offer. The NUJ and Amicus are also prepared to accept the offer.

The pay rise, due to be paid from 1 August 2005, was made after the unions rejected an earlier proposal for a 3.2% rise.

The offer, which will be paid to staff in the BBC itself and BBC Broadcast, consists of:

• 3.5% basic increase
• Minimum rise of £550
• Enhanced redundancy notice continues until 31 March 2008
• London weighting rises to £3,213 (£3,586 if salary below £22k)
• Night pay increases to: £7.76 (0000-0400) £15.21 (0400-0600)
• Christmas Day/Boxing Day (or 1 Jan in Scotland) payment goes to £104.93

Pay settlements in BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources earlier in the year have both been based on increases of 3.5%.