BBC's Improved Pay Offer Recommended to Union Members

The BBC has made an improved pay offer after unions had threatened strike action over the Corporation's opening bid in pay talks.
The offer included an improved headline pay increase, significant improvements for lower-paid staff, and the deferral of a planned increase in pension contributions for staff.
Bectu said that BBC management proposed a two-year deal, with 4% payable from August this year, and a further 2% in 2008, and will postpone an increase in pension contributions equal to 1.5% of salary, which was due to take effect in September this year.
Any increase in staff pension contributions will be delayed until September 2008, and will be preceded by discussions with unions about the outcome of a triennial valuation of the scheme's assets, currently being undertaken by pension actuaries.
The proposals, which were tabled on condition that Bectu, NUJ, and Amicus would advise members to accept them, came at a meeting held on June 11.
The BBC further agreed that if inflation in April 2008 was above 2%, the unions would be able to "re-open formal dialogue" over pay. However, management insisted that the offer was a two-year deal, and the BBC's limited income from the licence fee - which will rise 3% this year and increases by another 3% in 2008 - would restrict pay increases to an aggregate 6% over the period of the pay settlement.
Bectu's Assistant General Secretary Luke Crawley said: "The BBC's offer is being recommended by the joint unions because we believe that many of our members will get improvements at or above inflation.
"The BBC's decision to postpone the increase in members' pension contributions is also a breakthrough and the further review in April 2008 may mean that it will not be necessary, depending on the health of the scheme. We would urge members to vote in favour of the offer in the consultative ballot."
Bectu will ballot members on Friday June 15, and voting will close on Monday July 2.
Union members in BBC subsidiary Worldwide are considering an offer of 3.5% plus a range of bonuses in a one-year pay offer.
While over at BBC Resources union representatives are due to meet the company on June 13 to discuss a two-year offer of 3.5%, followed by 2%.
(SP)