UNIONS TO STRIKE OVER BBC JOB CUTS
 http://www.nuj.org.uk/inner.php?docid=898

BBC unions are to ballot for strike action unless the corporation halts plans for devastating job losses.

Union reps from the three unions – NUJ, BECTU and AMICUS – will deliver an ultimatum to BBC managers tomorrow to call a halt to job losses, guarantee no compulsory redundancies and protect the working conditions of staff who are outsourced. If they refuse the unions will ballot for action.

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "We will not accept cuts which decimate programmes, devalue the BBC, short-change licence fee payers, increase pressures on staff and worsen working conditions.

"Departments across the BBC struggle to fill rotas today – how will axing 20% of staff deliver better quality or value for money for licence fee payers?

"The BBC management have a window of opportunity to enter meaningful talks with staff representatives. If they slam the window shut we will act.

"If BBC management won’t stand up for staff and licence-fee payers – we will.

"This is a grotesque display of self-harm being inflicted across the whole of the BBC at the hands of an incompetent management".

A copy of the full ultimatum to the BBC is attached.




The BBC’s joint unions strongly condemn Mark Thompson’s outrageous, politically motivated cuts which fundamentally damage the BBC.

The BBC unions - BECTU, NUJ and AMICUS - who met on 23rd March have put the following to the BBC:
 http://www.nuj.org.uk/inner.php?docid=899

Before any negotiations can proceed the BBC must agree to the following:

1. A 90-day moratorium on any further attempts to progress the redundancies at any level, including attempts to identify volunteers. During the period of the moratorium, existing staffing levels must be maintained, including the extension of all fixed term contracts and filling in behind attachments. In the meantime the BBC must begin meaningful consultation with the Joint Unions about why these post closures are necessary. This must include discussions on the future shape of the Corporation and a detailed explanation of how the BBC expects the existing level of work to be done in the future with 3,780 fewer staff.

2. No compulsory redundancies. Any post closures must be achieved by natural wastage and voluntary redundancies, with no right for the management to pick and choose who should go. Any reduction in staffing levels must not result in an increased workload for staff who remain. The phasing of any redundancies should be changed, and a comprehensive redeployment package should be agreed to minimise any job losses and provide the maximum opportunity for retraining existing staff.

3. We are opposed to outsourcing our members’ jobs but if it is to go ahead then the BBC must agree to write into all tender documents protection of terms, conditions, pensions and employment, no less favourable than those agreed for the sale of BBC Technology to Siemens.

4. We call on the BBC to bring forward their proposals for the future of the global news division including World Service, Monitoring and BBC World.

We expect a positive response from the BBC by Monday 4th April failing that we will register a failure to agree and move to an industrial action ballot.

National Joint Council
AMICUS
NUJ
BECTU
23rd March 2005