BBC redundancy plans condemned
BBC plans to issue compulsory redundancy notices as part of BBC cutbacks has been condemned by unions.
BECTU, NUJ and Amicus representatives met yesterday (28 March 2006) and agreed that if the Corporation does not withdraw compulsory redundancies within four weeks then further industrial action will be considered.
“BECTU does not believe there is any need for these compulsory redundancies...”
BECTU supervisory official Luke Crawley said: "We expect the BBC to hold back issuing notice of compulsory redundancy to our members this weekend.
"We believe that having achieved nearly 1,500 volunteers there is no need for the BBC to force through a tiny number of compulsory redundancies.
"BECTU does not believe there is any need for these compulsory redundancies and will take industrial action to protect its members interests if that proves necessary".
Currently the BBC plans to issue fifty redundancy notices on 1 April 2006.
Joint union statement: 28 March 2006
"This meeting of the joint unions condemns plans by BBC management to issue compulsory redundancy notices to union members and the failure to provide accurate information to negotiators. This meeting calls on the BBC to:
- agree to defer the remaining small number of compulsory redundancies and, in the event of refusal to do this, to meet the joint unions to explain their reasons;
- address outstanding workload concerns across the BBC;
- provide union reps with accurate up-to-date figures and information.
In the event of any union members still facing the threat of compulsory redundancy within four weeks, this meeting will be reconvened to consider further industrial/strike action."