News

BECTU is leading a campaign to safeguard BBC staff pensions. The union's campaign, started on 2 July, has won the support of hundreds of new members.



BECTU and its sister unions in the BBC are reacting to the BBC plans to limit pension increases from April 2011 to a maximum 1 one per cent a year irrespective of increases in basic pay derived either from the annual pay award or promotion.

The proposals have met with widespread criticism from staff, the majority of whom are affected by the plans. Thousands attended meetings during the summer called by BECTU, the NUJ and Unite across the country. However management refused to tack its proposal of the tables and the Unions are currently conducting ballots for strike action with a closing date of 1 September.

The proposals tabled by senior management offer no protection for accrued benefits and will see future pension entitlement cut adrift from basic salary.The BBC also wants to close the only scheme which remains open to new staff - the career average scheme - from December 2010.

"The BBC's proposals are a fundamental and long-lasting attack on staff terms and conditions and are intent on driving staff out of the final salary schemes," said BECTU General Secretary, Gerry Morrissey. In an open letter to all staff Morrissey underlined that "this campaign is arguably the most important all-staff campaign in recent years. It is a campaign for BBC staff which the unions must win. At stake is the future financial security of thousands of BBC workers, whatever their current length of service."