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BBC News staff strike over pensions

2010-11-05 11:39:34

Members of the National Union of Journalists at the BBC are taking part in a

two-day strike in a dispute over proposed changes to the pension plan.

The NUJ, which has 4,100 members at the BBC, voted to reject the corporation's

"final" offer on pensions.

Radio 4's Today programme was cancelled, while some shows on 5 Live were

replaced by recordings.

A further 48-hour strike is planned for 15 and 16 November. Broadcasting union

Bectu voted to accept the deal.

The journalists' union said the action was having a "significant impact" on

news and current affairs programmes.

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: "It is a clear indication that BBC

journalists will stand up for a fair pension deal.

"Programmes that are going out are being run by freelance staff or managers,

using pre-recorded packages.

"The strike is incredibly solid and the impact will grow over the course of the

next two days."

'Inevitable disruption'

But BBC director general Mark Thompson said in his blog: "We believe that much

of the output on the BBC will be unaffected by this action.

"However, it is inevitable that some programmes and content will be disrupted.

"This has been a difficult period for staff. However, the people who lose out

most in any strike action are the very people we are here to serve - our

audiences."

NUJ members at the BBC are also set to observe an indefinite work to rule from

Sunday, ensuring they take full breaks and only work their minimum prescribed

hours.

The dispute stems from the BBC's plans to reduce a 1.5bn pensions deficit by

capping increases in pensionable pay at 1% from next April.

'Best offer'

Under the BBC's revised offer, the amount employees would have to pay into the

pension scheme has been reduced from 7% to 6%.

In return, they would get a career-average benefit pension - based on the

average salary over an employee's entire career - that would be revalued by up

to 4% each year. The previous offer was 2.5%.

When employees draw their pension, payments will increase automatically each

year in line with inflation, by up to 4% - again up from a previous offer of

2.5%.

Bectu, which represents technical and production staff, said after last month's

ballot that the amended offer was "the best that can be achieved through

negotiation".

But it added their position could be reviewed if the pensions deficit turned

out to be less than 1.5bn.