Broadcast move rejected in Playout

Members in TV Playout in West London have voted against their TUPE transfer into BBC Broadcast Ltd.

In a postal ballot which closed today, June 23, there were 11 votes in favour of accepting the transfer package, but 13 votes against. Turnout was just over 70%.

BECTU now plans to consult members, and may run an industrial action ballot to win better guarantees for staff affected by the transfer, which management had hoped would go ahead on July 31.

Management announced the plan to transfer roughly 50 staff, currently employed by BBC Technology, into BBC Broadcast late last year, but claimed that the move was not connected with the proposal to sell off BBCT.

Discussions on the transfer, covered by the TUPE regulations because the staff would switch employment from one company to another, began weeks before BBC Broadcast started moving into its new Broadcast Centre at White City.

Members condemned the transfer as the death-knell for the department formerly known as Broadcast Engineering, but negotiators nevertheless attempted to win guarantees from Broadcast that terms, conditions, scheduling practice, and staffing levels would remain unchanged after the TUPE move took place.

Having pitched for a protected period of up to three years, the union was offered a guarantee that ran until April 2005 - only eight months after the transfer.

Talks on harmonising the pay anniversary of Playout staff with the calendar in Broadcast were more successful - management agreed that if Broadcast won an increase in August greater than the 2.5% rise paid from April to BBC Technology, the difference would be made up. An outstanding £600 bonus, due to be paid to BBCT staff in December, would also be paid by Broadcast, but not until March 2005.

If members call for an industrial action ballot, they will join many other areas of the BBC currently balloting either on issues arising from the sale of BBC Technology, or the BBC's 2.7% pay offer.