BBC unions to ballot over possible Jubilee strike action

Staff at the BBC are to be balloted for strike action over what unions have called a "derisory" pay offer of 1 per cent, with unions warning that they "will be targeting the [Queen's Diamond] Jubilee celebrations".

In a release today Bectu, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Unite said they will serve notice of a strike ballot tomorrow (20 April) and plan to hold a ballot from 30 April to 21 May.

The three unions jointly issued a pay claim for BBC staff for 2012 to 2013 in January asking for a rise "of RPI plus two per cent, with a minimum increase of £1,000".

BBC unions lead negotiator and general secretary of Bectu Gerry Morrissey said in the release that the pay offer was "insulting".

"The BBC had actually asked us to consult members and had scheduled a meeting on pay with us for next week. We had informed them that a direct offer of 1 per cent would be seen as a hostile act by the joint unions. We now have no option but to call a strike ballot at the earliest opportunity."

In a statement a BBC spokesperson said "the economic climate remains tough for everyone" and that ballots for industrial action "will not change our circumstances".

"This year we have decided to implement the pay increase early as a small way of recognising the hard work that is going on across the BBC in implementing the savings we need to make and meeting the challenges we face in 2012.

"We are very disappointed that the unions have decided to ballot their members about taking industrial action."

But general secretary of the NUJ Michelle Stanistreet said the union "does not accept the implementation of this derisory pay award".

"It is not just about pay. It is about the BBC's failure to negotiate on a range of issues affecting our members."

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