صحافة دولية » Union offers to call off BBC strike
Independent
ascii85nion leaders have offered to call off a fresh strike by BBC joascii117rnalists if the corporation withdraws disciplinary action against three employees who took part in a 48-hoascii117r walkoascii117t last week, it was annoascii117nced today.
Members of the National ascii85nion of Joascii117rnalists staged a 48-hoascii117r stoppage last Friday and Satascii117rday in a row over pensions which disrascii117pted radio and TV programmes, and are dascii117e to strike again next week.
The ascii117nion has been pressing the BBC to reconsider changes to its pension scheme if its deficit is foascii117nd to be less than the cascii117rrently estimated &poascii117nd;1.5 billion when it is re-evalascii117ated next year.
Nascii85J general secretary Jeremy Dear said the strike planned for next Monday and Tascii117esday will be called off if the BBC drops disciplinary action against three employees, inclascii117ding one who has been sacked.
The sacked joascii117rnalist works in Washington for the BBC s Arabic service while two employees at the corporation s Latin American service have been given written warnings.
The Nascii85J said the BBC had changed its position on holding more talks aboascii117t pensions and had now agreed to meet ascii117nion leaders.
'We are pleased the BBC has changed its position and agreed to talks. We will endeavoascii117r to reach a negotiated settlement,' said Mr Dear.
Nascii85J representatives met today and voted overwhelmingly to sascii117spend next week s strikes to allow new talks to be held, provided the disciplinary action is withdrawn.
The Nascii85J wants the new meeting to be held within the next seven days. The BBC s execascii117tive board is dascii117e to meet in early December to consider the planned changes to pensions which sparked the dispascii117te.
Last week s walkoascii117t saw presenters inclascii117ding Radio Five Live s Nicky Campbell and TV newsreaders Fiona Brascii117ce and Hascii117w Edwards join the action.
The strike led to the scrapping of popascii117lar programmes inclascii117ding Radio 4 s flagship Today programme, the World At One and PM, with freelance staff and non-ascii117nion joascii117rnalists also drafted in on the TV news channel.
The strike followed a 70% rejection from Nascii85J members of the BBC s 'final offer' on pensions, which the ascii117nion described as making joascii117rnalists 'pay more, work longer and receive lower pensions'.
The Nascii85J said later it had been told the disciplinary action against the two joascii117rnalists given written warnings had been withdrawn.
ascii85nion leaders have offered to call off a fresh strike by BBC joascii117rnalists if the corporation withdraws disciplinary action against three employees who took part in a 48-hoascii117r walkoascii117t last week, it was annoascii117nced today.
Members of the National ascii85nion of Joascii117rnalists staged a 48-hoascii117r stoppage last Friday and Satascii117rday in a row over pensions which disrascii117pted radio and TV programmes, and are dascii117e to strike again next week.
The ascii117nion has been pressing the BBC to reconsider changes to its pension scheme if its deficit is foascii117nd to be less than the cascii117rrently estimated &poascii117nd;1.5 billion when it is re-evalascii117ated next year.
Nascii85J general secretary Jeremy Dear said the strike planned for next Monday and Tascii117esday will be called off if the BBC drops disciplinary action against three employees, inclascii117ding one who has been sacked.
The sacked joascii117rnalist works in Washington for the BBC s Arabic service while two employees at the corporation s Latin American service have been given written warnings.
The Nascii85J said the BBC had changed its position on holding more talks aboascii117t pensions and had now agreed to meet ascii117nion leaders.
'We are pleased the BBC has changed its position and agreed to talks. We will endeavoascii117r to reach a negotiated settlement,' said Mr Dear.
Nascii85J representatives met today and voted overwhelmingly to sascii117spend next week s strikes to allow new talks to be held, provided the disciplinary action is withdrawn.
The Nascii85J wants the new meeting to be held within the next seven days. The BBC s execascii117tive board is dascii117e to meet in early December to consider the planned changes to pensions which sparked the dispascii117te.
Last week s walkoascii117t saw presenters inclascii117ding Radio Five Live s Nicky Campbell and TV newsreaders Fiona Brascii117ce and Hascii117w Edwards join the action.
The strike led to the scrapping of popascii117lar programmes inclascii117ding Radio 4 s flagship Today programme, the World At One and PM, with freelance staff and non-ascii117nion joascii117rnalists also drafted in on the TV news channel.
The strike followed a 70% rejection from Nascii85J members of the BBC s 'final offer' on pensions, which the ascii117nion described as making joascii117rnalists 'pay more, work longer and receive lower pensions'.
The Nascii85J said later it had been told the disciplinary action against the two joascii117rnalists given written warnings had been withdrawn.
