UNIONS BEGIN TALKS ON EXPENSES CLAIMS AT BBC

CONSULTATION has started between union and BBC management teams regarding new rules for reclaiming expenses.
BECTU, the NUJ and AEEU met with management on November 9 to discuss the new expenses system, due to start in January 2001. BECTU say that since September when the system was announced they have received hundreds of complaints regarding the proposed new system for BBC staff expenses claims.
Under the proposed rules flat-rate payments will be abolished and are to be replaced by ‘capped actuality’ where staff can reclaim costs as long as they are under a limit previously set by the BBC. Trigger timings for staff claiming allowances for travelling to work early morning or late at night will also be tightened, and the existing option of using private cars in return for a mileage allowance will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.
The loss of lunch allowances has been condemned as ‘illogical’ and ‘unfair’ because not all BBC staff have access to subsidised canteen facilities.
Management said changes in the travel rules were not intended to save money and the wording of some sections would be reconsidered as a response to the criticisms.
However, management confirmed that a number of allowances were to be scrapped completely, including allowance for tools and some equipment.
Managers have agreed to meet with the unions once they had fully considered the points raised at the meeting. It is understood that at the meeting BBC managers admitted that they had been deluged by individual staff complaints about new rules.
BECTU have stated that unless the new rules were changed before January they would take any necessary steps, including industrial action ballots, to resist the proposed changes.