Here it is...the massive vote for strike action.
The ballots across the 3 unions averaged around 90%. In the NUJ the vote was 94% in favour of strike action and 97% for action short of a strike.
Next week's negotiations should be a lot more constructive!
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Massive vote for action expected in BBC ballot today
After the weeks of touring the UK doing meetings union reps from the NUJ, Bectu and Unite will today get the result of the ballots for strike action over pensions.
We expect to make an announcement between 3.30pm and 4pm today after our reps have had a chance to consider a report back on the latest talks with BBC management and what we expect to be a massive vote in favour of action...more later.
We expect to make an announcement between 3.30pm and 4pm today after our reps have had a chance to consider a report back on the latest talks with BBC management and what we expect to be a massive vote in favour of action...more later.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thompson comes out fighting - time to concentrate on the right targets
So Mark Thompson has finally delivered his MacTaggart lecture and I'm sure it is being trashed by many newspapers but there is much to be applauded in the speech. It is a strong defence of public service broadcasting and the BBC and a clear rebuff to the nonsense talked by James Murdoch at last year's event. Particularly welcome is the case made for a retransmission levy - which the NUJ has long been campaigning for - which would see those who rebroadcast public service content but pay nothing for its creation pay a charge to enable more investment in original content. There were also some welcome comments about the need to tackle executive excess at the beeb.
But the speech also failed to address some real current concerns - like the threat to staff pensions which has sparked a revolt inside the corporation. You cannot make great programmes without great staff. They are fundamental to what makes the BBC so popular. Yet they are demoralised and undervalued by a management which has rewarded itself and is now undermining their pay and conditions. The BBC would stand a much better chance of fighting off it's enemies if it was united itself. To rebuild that unity staff want the DG delivering more robust defences of what they do and less waging war on their pensions. When the unions declare their ballot results next week all that is good about tonight's speech will be lost amidst the headlines over strike threats and pension robberies. It's not too late for the BBC management to stop that happening. Stop the pensions robbery!
But the speech also failed to address some real current concerns - like the threat to staff pensions which has sparked a revolt inside the corporation. You cannot make great programmes without great staff. They are fundamental to what makes the BBC so popular. Yet they are demoralised and undervalued by a management which has rewarded itself and is now undermining their pay and conditions. The BBC would stand a much better chance of fighting off it's enemies if it was united itself. To rebuild that unity staff want the DG delivering more robust defences of what they do and less waging war on their pensions. When the unions declare their ballot results next week all that is good about tonight's speech will be lost amidst the headlines over strike threats and pension robberies. It's not too late for the BBC management to stop that happening. Stop the pensions robbery!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Crunch time for BBC pensions dispute
I am heading over to BBC World Service later today to do the next of our BBC pensions dispute ballot update meetings - a chance to bring members up to date on negotiations, progress of the ballot and make sure we turn out the vote and keep recruiting.
Yesterday I did a similar meeting at TV Centre - and it is clear that a massive majority will vote yes in the ballot. We're talking North Korean election proportions here!
TV Centre is plastered in posters, stickers and leaflets. In the corridoor leading to the newsroom the photos of each of the BBC's high profile news presenters have had a BBC Pensions Robbery sticker added to the jacket lapels. Very tasteful.
The UK specialists team have gone a step further!
Since the ballot was announced we've had 3 sets of negotiations with BBC management -they've been constructive but nowhere near enough progress has been made and there's a lot of hard talking to be done still. That's why it's so important we keep up the campaign...and are ready to take action if the BBC do not agree to stop the pensions robbery.
Next talks take place tomorrow.
Yesterday I did a similar meeting at TV Centre - and it is clear that a massive majority will vote yes in the ballot. We're talking North Korean election proportions here!
TV Centre is plastered in posters, stickers and leaflets. In the corridoor leading to the newsroom the photos of each of the BBC's high profile news presenters have had a BBC Pensions Robbery sticker added to the jacket lapels. Very tasteful.
The UK specialists team have gone a step further!
Since the ballot was announced we've had 3 sets of negotiations with BBC management -they've been constructive but nowhere near enough progress has been made and there's a lot of hard talking to be done still. That's why it's so important we keep up the campaign...and are ready to take action if the BBC do not agree to stop the pensions robbery.
Next talks take place tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Save public libraries
The Mirror is reporting today the threat to public libraries from the ConDem government's proposals to get shops, charities and volunteers to run them. NUJ Deputy General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet has stepped in to support the campaign to save our libraries. We're working with Unison to oppose library closures.
Wirral recently closed 11 of its 23 libraries and closures are happening all over the place. Spending on books is already massively down before the latest round of cuts. If these plans go ahead another 1000 could go. Time to unite library staff and users to save public libraries.
Wirral recently closed 11 of its 23 libraries and closures are happening all over the place. Spending on books is already massively down before the latest round of cuts. If these plans go ahead another 1000 could go. Time to unite library staff and users to save public libraries.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Charles' (union) family welcome him..
It was great to sit and have a meal with Charles Atangana last night after his release from Dover Immigration Removal Centre. Today I welcomed him to the NUJ's headquarters where we are busy planning the next stages of the campaign to stop his deportation.
There's information on how you can get involved here
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Charles is free! Now step up the fight to stop the deportation
Charles Atangana has won his bail hearing - and he's on his way from Dover to the NUJ headquarters now. It's brilliant news. Thanks to everyone who helped!
(c) Guy Smallman - Speaking to protestors outside Charles' bail hearing
But this is just the beginning. Now we need to step up the fight to stop his deportation. Ideas for action here - and keep your eyes on the NUJ website for more activity.
(c) Guy Smallman - Speaking to protestors outside Charles' bail hearing
But this is just the beginning. Now we need to step up the fight to stop his deportation. Ideas for action here - and keep your eyes on the NUJ website for more activity.
Free, free Charles Atangana!
Been out protesting against the threatened deportation of Charles Atangana at his bail hearing. Expect some more news shortly...but for now here's the vice-president's blog on the demo.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Giving up...
How is BBC Director General Mark Thompson going to survive on just £670,000 a year - that will be all he's entitled to once he gives up his pension bung and his temporary plan to forgo a month's pay.
Of course it's welcome that he is at last reacting to the public and staff outcry over management greed - but let's be clear this is being done in response to the unions' campaign against the pensions robbery going on and to the fact that the pension top up payments made to senior managers have hit the headlines.
And it is too little, too late. The BBC have had pensions holidays, underpaid over a number of years and put millions in to executive pensions - now they are asking staff to pay the price. The BBC must guarantee the value of staff pensions already earned or face the prospect of co-ordinated strike action.
It's no coincidence the BBC will put forward new proposals on 1 September - it's the day the unions' ballots close and a day before our reps meet to decide the next steps. Be warned - there is so much anger people cannot be easily bought off by tinkering with the current proposals. Take them off the table and sit down with the unions and negotiate. That way we can avoid the need for strike action and work towards a fair solution.
Of course it's welcome that he is at last reacting to the public and staff outcry over management greed - but let's be clear this is being done in response to the unions' campaign against the pensions robbery going on and to the fact that the pension top up payments made to senior managers have hit the headlines.
And it is too little, too late. The BBC have had pensions holidays, underpaid over a number of years and put millions in to executive pensions - now they are asking staff to pay the price. The BBC must guarantee the value of staff pensions already earned or face the prospect of co-ordinated strike action.
It's no coincidence the BBC will put forward new proposals on 1 September - it's the day the unions' ballots close and a day before our reps meet to decide the next steps. Be warned - there is so much anger people cannot be easily bought off by tinkering with the current proposals. Take them off the table and sit down with the unions and negotiate. That way we can avoid the need for strike action and work towards a fair solution.
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