New talks halt BBC News stoppage
BBC: “we will jointly explore how we can better match the needs of staff with the needs of the business.”
BECTU has called off strikes in BBC news this week after an offer of peace talks from management.
Strikes were due on November 23 and 24 as part of a continuing industrial action campaign against punitive rota changes.
Members in News Production Facilities, who provide engineering and IT backup for BBC TV News programmes, walked out for 24 hours last week in response to a management announcement that new rotas would be imposed without agreement in January.
Today, November 22, the BBC approached BECTU and agreed to defer the target date for the changes in order to hold urgent negotiations where management will "aim to match the needs of staff with the needs of the business".
Discussions are due to begin at 1030 on Friday November 24, but the union has warned that further strike dates could be named if no progress is made at the meeting.
Supervisory Official Luke Crawley said "We welcome the offer of talks. If the BBC are serious we will try to reach agreement on the rota changes if they are not then more strikes will take place."
More than 90 BECTU members were balloted at the beginning of the action, and a majority of 95% voted in favour of strikes.