FORMATION OF BBC TECHNOLOGY REMAINS UNRESOLVED

BECTU have announced the outcome of the recent ballot regarding the formation of the BBC's new subsidiary company BBC Technology.
Whilst members have accepted the pay and conditions guarantees offered by management, the majority did not agree with the change to a limited company separate from the corporation and overwhelmingly rejected the corporation’s decision to set up the subsidiary company.
BECTU ran the ballot to give members the opportunity to respond to the changes due to be implemented. In two separate questions, the ballot asked if respondents agreed with the creation of BBC Technology Limited; and secondly if they agreed with the BBC’s guarantees on conditions of service, pensions and pay bargaining.
However, only two fifths of the staff concerned participated in the poll.
BECTU have notified BBC management that members are willing to accept the guarantees of continued BBC pension rights; no changes to redundancy pay, leave and other core conditions of service for two years. Also guaranteed are pay increases, at least as good as the rest of the BBC, for two years.
BECTU say that the concept of a new subsidiary was questioned on the grounds that Technology Limited will not engage in enough external work to attract intervention from competition authorities.
Formed as part of Director-General Greg Dyke’s bid to fund new BBC services, while at the same time increasing budgets for BBC One and BBC Two, the new company will be expected to earn money from commercial customers seeking broadcast and IT expertise.
The BBC has to wait for permission from Culture Minister Chris Smith to register BBC Technology Limited.
BECTU are attempting to influence his decision by taking the results of the ballot to him, emphasising the strong feelings among members against the new company’s creation.
If the formation of the new limited company is approved, up to 1300 staff from various areas of the BBC will be transferred into Technology Limited.