Action over BBC pay and pensions 'more likely'

The NUJ warned that a strike ballot of its BBC members on pay and pensions looks more likely after talks with BBC management and the broadcasting unions on the 2010/11 pay review broke down today with no agreement.
The BBC’s has offered staff a flat rate increase of £475 for staff paid up to £37,726 a year. The NUJ says more than a third of BBC journalists will receive nothing.
The unions have argued that the BBC can afford to pay more to its staff across the board given the 2 per cent rise in its licence fee income. NUJ, Bectu and Unite negotiators will meet with BBC staff over the next few weeks at a series of meetings across the country starting on 5 July. Union reps from all three unions will meet in London on 19 July to assess the feedback.
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: “If the BBC fails to address the real concerns members have over pay and pensions then a ballot for industrial action seems inevitable”.