2004 BBC Conference decides
Branch delegates from across the BBC have met at the 2004 Divisional Conference.
Policies agreed by the Conference, full details of which are given below, included:
- Using all means possible to campaign against the proposed BBC Technology privatisation.
- Opposing proposed cuts in Factual and Learning.
- Limiting the distribution of salaries across the BBC.
- Objecting to redundancy programmes that are discriminatory.
Formal motions on the BBC Conference agenda
All decisions on proposed propositions (motions) considered by the BBC Divisional Conference at Liverpool on 9 May 2004.
Decisions of Conference are flagged by the use of six descriptions:
- CARRIED - proposal supported by Conference.
- LOST - proposal rejected by Conference.
- REMITTED - proposal handed to BBC Divisional Committee without any decision by Conference.
- PASSED OVER - proposal not debated or no vote taken.
- WITHDRAWN - proposal removed by those who submitted the motion and therefore not considered by Conference.
- INCORPORATED - amendment incorporated into proposal by agreement of movers of proposal.
Proposition 1: BBC staff recruited overseas
That this BBC Division notes the increasing numbers of staff recruited overseas by the BBC. These staff frequently suffer from poor or inconsistent conditions of service.
Conference urges the BBC Division to look at ways in which these staff may be represented by a trade union and to seek formal recognition for these staff. Should recognition by a local trade union be considered, BECTU should ensure suitable links are forged between these organisations.
Proposition 2: Limits on the distribution of BBC salaries
That this BBC Divisional Conference requests of the BBC that no single BBC employee will be paid a gross taxable annual salary more than 35 times that of any other BBC employee; further, that the proportionate difference between the uppermost tenth of BBC salaries and lowest tenth of BBC salaries (by gross taxable income) be published in the BBC Annual Report.
Proposition 3: Membership of non-BBC organisations
That this BBC Divisional Conference requests of the BBC that all staff working with and/or deciding matters of personnel, grading and employment declare their membership of organisations outwith the BBC to the BBC, and that this information be placed on a list open to the public.
Proposition 4: Increased London Weighting
That this BBC Divisional Conference instructs the BBC Divisional Committee to include an increase in London Weighting to at least four thousand pounds per year, in all future pay negotiations.
REMITTED
Proposition 4a (EP1): Diversity and equal opportunities
The BBC publishes many policy statements relating to diversity and equal opportunities for all staff.
However actions by individual managers do not always reflect these policies.
This emergency proposition is being submitted because recently in Caversham Monitoring there has been a programme of questioning the abilities of staff over 50 and the commitment of part time staff, this has resulted in staff in these groups being singled out for voluntary redundancy and being required to submit to unapproved aptitude tests outside of the appraisal process.
This BBC Divisional Conference instructs the BBC Divisional Committee to register with the BBC its opposition to such discriminatory programmes as that described and demand that the BBC reaffirms its commitment to its stated staff policies.
CARRIED
Proposition 4b (EP2): Factual and Learning
This BBC Divisional Conference reaffirms its opposition to compulsory redundancies.
Conference supports the Branches in Factual and Learning in all actions taken to protect all their members facing compulsory redundancy and agrees that BECTU should instigate a ballot for industrial action if necessary.
Conference further opposes the BBC's decision not to apply the ACAS agreement to fixed term contract employees currently at risk of redundancy.
Conference further opposes the intention of the BBC not to renew fixed term contracts in order to avoid declaring the trues level of cuts.
CARRIED
Proposition 5: Outsourcing sell off of BBC Technology Ltd
That this BBC Divisional Conference instructs the BBC Divisional Committee to formally reiterate its unequivocal opposition to the proposed outsourcing sell off of BBC Technology Ltd and use all means possible to campaign against the BBC's proposal.
CARRIED
Proposition 6: Settlement of industrial issues
That this BBC Divisional Conference confirms that any dispute which has resulted in a successful ballot of members calling for industrial action can only be called off after another ballot of members. The relevant SDC or BBC Divisional Committee can suspend a dispute to enter into or carry on negotiations, but cannot end the dispute without full reference back to the membership originally balloted.
REMITTED
Amended 17 May 2004