BBC Worldwide union members accept pay offer

Union members at BBC Worldwide have voted to accept a basic pay award for 2010-11, following a campaign by representatives.

According to a statement from the media and entertainment union BECTU, more than 78 per cent of its members at BBC Worldwide voted in favour of the deal in the ballot, which closed last Friday.

The agreement applies to UK staff on pay grades 1-4. Any increase for staff on more senior pay grades will be subject to a comparison of their salaries with the market, says the union on its website.

But BECTU will continue to campaign for a better pay offer for BBC colleagues, who were offered a flat rate increase of £475 if paid up to £37,726 and pay freeze for those above this cap as part of its annual pay negotiations.

Staff at the BBC are currently being balloted for strike action over pension proposals by the broadcaster. The proposals put forward by the BBC in June included plans to place a one per cent cap on increases in pensionable salary and to close the final-salary scheme to new joiners.

The ballot will close at the end of August, but the consultation period on the BBC's proposals will not end until 30 September.

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