BBC talks take their toll - but agreement reached

Another all night session - 19 hours of talks at the BBC - but it was worth it as we were finally able to reach an agreement in principle this morning and it was endorsed by our reps this afternoon.

I joked at about midnight last night (as we entered the 10th hour of the talks) that I was going to be late for my 9am meeting this morning if negotiations carried on at the pace they were going. At 9.15am this morning when I turned up late, direct from the negotiations, it didn't feel like a joke.

The agreement covers redundancies, UPA - the BBC's Unpredictability Allowance and pensions among other things and will be voted on by members of the three unions involved in the talks - NUJ, Bectu and Unite.

The BBC talks were followed immediately by an NUJ Pension Trstees meeting and the BBC reps meeting - lively as ever.

Now I'm fading fast and heading home for some well deserved sleep...


The talks take their toll