Dirty tricks campaign at Sky

BECTU has accused BSkyB of using underhand tactics to head off compulsory union recognition.

Managers and union officials now have 20 days to agree on the size of the "bargaining unit" in which staff will be balloted. The ballot was ordered after BECTU proved to the CAC that it had more than 10% of the workforce in membership, and over 50% of the entire staff supported the idea of a ballot on union recognition.

Earlier attempts to win recognition through discussion with the company met a stone wall, although at the time BSkyB said that it would observe the law of the land if its staff voted to allow the union in.

BECTU is now hoping to start talks with BSkyB to define the bargaining unit, but is not optimistic about reaching agreement in light of the management's efforts to undermine the secret ballot.