Survey boycott confirmed

BBC Members are still being advised not to submit electronic Conflict of Interest forms.

Although concerns about the data security of sensitive personal data have been eased following talks with management, the unions are still opposed to the intrusiveness of some questions on the forms, especially those touching on family and political associations.

Corporation management do not appear to be threatening action against staff who refuse to fill in the forms, but warn that they may nevertheless have to deal in the future with undisclosed outside interests which pose a conflict of interest.

There has been an obligation on staff to report potential conflicts of interest for many years, but a major row broke out in May 2003 when details of a re-worded declaration leaked out into the UK national press.

Unions had earlier held talks with management about the revised wording, but the final form went far beyond anything they had agreed, and was also sent to all existing staff, not just those who had already declared a conflict, and new joiners.

At a meeting in June, management refused to withdraw the forms, or to re-word them, and the unions warned that advice, telling members not to sign them, would become permanent.