Unions challenge BBC cuts threats

The NUJ, Bectu and Unite unions have warned that they could launch a strike ballot at the BBC over attacks on pay and pensions.

The BBC has offered staff a below-inflation flat rate increase of £475 for those paid less than £37,726. This means that more than a third of BBC journalists will receive nothing.

The corporation also wants attack pensions. It wants to close the final salary scheme to new workers and cap the existing members’ pensions. Reps from the three unions are scheduled to meet on Friday of next week.

Jeremy Dear, the general secretary of the NUJ union, said, “Unless the BBC withdraws its pensions proposal the major parties’ conferences in September and October could be the target of industrial action.”