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22 May 2012

The dispute is settled. The BBC’s one per cent pay offer for 2012-13 (subject to a minimum increase of "400) remains derisory. But, said NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet, "We are now making constructive and positive progress with trying to find proper and long term solutions. The immediate risk of redundancies at TV Current Affairs and the World Service have been averted. This has only been achieved because NUJ members have stood solidly together in opposition to compulsory redundancies.". BECTU General Secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "putting basic pay to one side for the moment, we believe that this week’s agreement with the BBC, incorporating as it does valuable concessions, not only on collective bargaining but on key allowances, appraisals and on redeployment, represents vital protections for staff."

Watch for details of BBC action

The NUJ is balloting members who work for the BBC on industrial action over the Corporation's "take-it-or-leave-it" offer of a one par cent rise.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "This is not just about a derisory pay deal of 1 per cent imposed on our members without proper consultation. It is about the BBC going back on a deal made last autumn on a redeployment scheme which has left members needlessly facing compulsory redundancy, when there are jobs elsewhere in the corporation. It is also about an unfair appraisal scheme under which all members of staff would be marked. Again this is being imposed without consultation.

"We are taking this action," Michelle said, "not out of self-interest, but because we love the BBC. We are taking this action because we believe licence fee payers should have a service which is properly funded and where the staff receive fair pay."

The ballot closes on May 21. Come back to this page for details of the outcome.

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