BBC Technology strike off

New ballot called

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in IT Director, 29th July 2004 16:01 GMT

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A two-day strike by BBC techies scheduled to begin tomorrow has been called off after employers made a second revised offer to staff. Lawyers for the broadcasting union BECTU said that this new offer needs to be put to workers before any industrial action can take place.

Industrial action - which could have disrupted the BBC's TV, radio and online services this weekend - has been suspended while union members are ballotted for this latest offer.

Workers at BBC Technology are unhappy at the proposed sale of the broadcaster's technology division to Siemens and their transfer to the technology outfit.

Union negotiators say that the newly-revised offer goes a long way towards meeting their key demands and includes certain employment and pension guarantees, such as a promise that no ex-BBC Technology staff would be redeployed within Siemens outside the city they are currently working in.

An earlier offer - which prompted this week's now suspended strike action - was rejected by the union.

Members of BECTU will now be ballotted on this new offer. If this is rejected techies could walk out on 13/14 August. ®