Three-year pay demand in BBC Tech
A pay claim covering three years has been submitted on behalf of members in the BBC's Technology subsidiary.The company, currently involved in sell-off plans opposed by the union, bargains separately from the rest of the BBC, and plans to move its pay anniversary forward from August to 1 April this year.
BECTU is calling for a 5% increase in April, followed by rises equal to inflation plus 2.5% for the next two years. There is also a demand for London Weighting to rise to £4000 a year over the three year period.
Negotiators believe that a long-term deal will protect members if the BBC eventually forces through the sale of BBC Technology, although the union is still campaigning against the company's privatisation.
BBC Technology Services Ltd, the company within the Technology Group which employs most of the 1400 staff covered by the claim, made a profit of £5.3m in the financial year which ended in March 2003.
Management are expected to give an initial response to the claim on 26 February 2004.
Letter from BECTU to BBC management
21 January 2004
Ms Pam Chase
Head of Personnel
BBC Technology Ltd
Grafton House
379 Euston Road, London NW1 3AU
Dear Pam
BBC Technology : Pay Claim 2004
In the light of recent discussions concerning the future of BBC Technology and the fact there will be separate pay bargaining from the BBC, I am writing to set out the pay claim for 2004.
We believe that because of the uncertainty over the future of BBC Technology and the possible transfer of ownership that there should be a three year pay deal. Accordingly we believe that there should be an increase of 5% on April 1st 2004 and that this should be applied to the floors and roofs of the salary bands, to UPA allowances, night rates, Christmas Day and New Year's Day payments, WOODs payments, T-rates and all salary related payments (excluding London Weighting). Since BBC Technology have now withdrawn from talks with the BBC and the unions which were intended to consolidate UPA payments for pension purposes, we are also seeking the consolidation of those payments for pension purposes with effect from 1 April 2004.
For London Weighting we believe that it should rise to £4000 over the three years of the pay settlement (for clarity, it would reach £4000 on April 1st 2006).
In 2005 and 2006 we believe the pay rise should be RPI plus 2.5% for each year.
This letter is necessarily brief and I would expect to expand upon the claim when we meet. I would appreciate it if you could contact my office when arranging the meeting.
Yours sincerely
Luke Crawley
Supervisory Official