BECTU WARN TALKS MAY BREAKDOWN

BECTU have warned that they expect talks regarding new expenses rules at the BBC to end without agreement.
A final draft of the new rules are due to be sent to Unions and management have already warned that the changes will be implemented on February 2001, with or without agreement.
At a national level meeting on January 11, the unions asked for the starting date to be postponed to allow further discussion on major points of difference, especially meal and overnight claims.
BECTU have stated that management appeared to believe that most of the revised proposals tabled at the meeting on January 11 were final, and would not be changed in further talks. Further amendments were expected to be made by January 15, BECTU have said if they find the final document unacceptable they will ballot members for industrial action, most likely in the form of a work-to-rule.
The prediction that talks would end on January 15 came after management proposed several changes to their draft expenses rules which were originally due to take effect on January 1, but were postponed until February after union protests.
One major sticking point in the negotiations is understood to be meal allowances.
Proposed changes in lunch allowances would lead to lower expenses payments than those in force at present. In response to Union criticisms of the revised meal and overnight proposals, management agreed to consider whether the requirement for receipts could be relaxed in situations where they were difficult to obtain, but refused to allow the continuation of scale rate allowances even in areas where they worked smoothly.
Other changes to the management's proposals included a promise that guidelines would be drawn up for issue and use of corporate charge cards, with a provision for managers to authorise claims for accrued interest charges, which were not the fault of individuals.
Tools allowances, and the evening dress allowance, were reinstated, and management clarified their proposals for travel claims. Public transport was confirmed as the BBC's default mode of travel for staff, and car travel would be reimbursed at PT rate unless ‘business reasons’ or absence of public transport justified mileage claims.
Further changes in wording were promised by January 15, but the Unions remained concerned that there would be too little local flexibility to work outside the national rules. Union reps also warned that the final abolition of telephone rental payments in all areas might prompt some staff to decline calls from the BBC at home.
A section covering payment for eye tests and glasses was due to be re-worded by January 15, with the original scale payments re-inserted. Management revealed that BBC Worldwide, and all the BBC's orchestras would be allowed to continue with separate policies.
Detailed plans for an industrial action ballot among BECTU members over expenses are likely to be discussed at a meeting of the Union’s BBC Divisional Committee on January 17, once the final draft of the new rules has been received. (CMcL)