Unresolved BBCT list

Letter to BBC concerning BBC Technology

6 August 2004

Ms Gillian Alford
Head of Employee Relations & Policy
Media Centre
Media Village
201 Wood Lane
London
W12 7TQ

Dear Gillian

Further to my letter of 21 July 2004 I outline below the secondary issues which we require the BBC and Siemens to address at our meeting next Wednesday.

1a. Childcare

The current crèche provisions should continue for all parents who have children in a BBC crèche.

1b. We expect Siemens to outline similar arrangements for parents whose children will require crèche facilities in the future.

1c. I would like confirmation that the current parental leave and pay, paternity leave and pay and maternity leave and pay will be transferred to Siemens.

2. Season tickets

BECTU seeks confirmation that the interest free season ticket loan will be transferred to Siemens and honoured by them in the future.

3. BBC job vacancies

Staff should be able to apply for internal vacancies on the same basis as BBC staff.

4. BBC Club

Membership to continue as for BBC staff.

5. Personal records

As with the LST transfer we will only expect the basic information to be transferred and it should be agreed with the individual employee what is transferring.

6. London Service Desk

Following Clare Prochazka's e-mail last week declaring that the London Service Desk could be phased out to be replaced with operational desks in Bristol and Durham, we need to know the rationale behind this proposal. When will it be implemented and the likely effects on the hundred or so staff.

7. Long Service Awards

I would like confirmation that Siemens will participate in the 25 and 40 years' long service award scheme which operates in the BBC.

8. Flexible working

Options for staff to do reduced hours, job share, career breaks etc., and flexible working in accordance with BBC policy.

9. Healthcare

As a BBC employee staff currently can get a discount on BUPA healthcare, how do Siemens intend honouring this in the future?

10. Parking facilities

We seek confirmation with the current parking arrangements for bikes, cars etc., will be retained.

11. Attachments

Will it be possible for staff to have attachments to the BBC?

12. Computer facilities

Can you confirm that BBCT staff will keep their existing BBC e-mail addresses, web mail, intranet access and be able to use My Connect Service?

13. Personal cases

Any ongoing or pending disciplinaries and grievances should be concluded prior to the date of transfer. Nothing should be transferred to Siemens associated with uncompleted cases.

14. Staff discounts at BBC Shops

We assume that the above will continue for staff transferring to Siemens.

15. Transport

Late night transport provisions to remain as per current arrangements with the BBC.

16. Data privacy

All data that has been collected personally on the BBC systems should be protected, by either the individual retaining their current computer system or by having assistance in transferring it to a new system.

17. ID cards

We assume that individuals will retain their current ID cards with the same access arrangements.

18. Local agreements and arrangements

A number of local agreements and arrangements are currently in place, we would expect these to be honoured and any proposed changes to working practices need to be negotiated with BECTU.

19. Leave

We assume corporation day will be retained.

20. Telephone facilities

The current arrangements for mobile phones and the use of BBC phones for local calls to continue.

21. Pay

Unless agreed otherwise with BECTU we expect staff to continue to be paid on the fifteenth day of each month. We also expect local arrangements on salary progression and cash advances to continue.

22. Staff returning to the BBC should be granted continuity of employment including previous BBC and Siemen's service.

23. Redundancy/redeployment

We have already agreed that the current agreed statement on redundancy will be honoured in its entirety for a minimum of 3 years after the date of transfer. Similarly, we expect the redeployment package i.e. 5 months'/6 months' redeployment to be retained.

24. Pay negotiations

We would expect the same arrangements for pay negotiations that exist in the BBC to be maintained at Siemens. We will submit our claim at least 3 months in advance and expect negotiations to commence at least 2 months before the anniversary date. We expect the current minimum salary and fully competent salary to be retained.

25. Allowances

We expect the current allowance/recoverable expenses policies and benefits to continue.

26. New staff

In order to avoid a two-tier system we would request that the current BBC terms and conditions will apply to new employees hired for the BBC contract.

27. Training

There are a number of training commitments and salary commitments that have been made to News, IT Staff who became part of the converged engineering/IT operation. We expect these to be honoured.

28. BBC benefits

Transferred staff are expecting to continue to use a number of BBC facilities that fall outside conditions of service. These include BBC options, online shopping facility, car purchase scheme access to subsidised restaurants and tea bars, occupational health and BBC dentist.

29a. Pensions

We have received a number of commitments from Siemens in relation to pensions especially in relation to old benefits and new benefits on discounting when it comes to early retirement and ill-health. In these instances discounting will be as per the BBC schemes. I would seek clarification that there is no different treatment for those people retiring voluntarily over the age of 50 in the future compared to how they are treated now in the BBC.

29b. We would like to hear Siemen's plans for how they intend to have their scheme fully funded.

29c. We would seek a guarantee that increases to pensions for pensioners will be in line with the current BBC new and old benefits, whichever is appropriate.

29d We would expect transferring staff to be given independent pension advice free prior to transfer.

29e. In the event of an employee returning to the BBC we would expect them to be able to join the BBC scheme they left and that in the event of them transferring their Siemens pension, then it would be treated as no break with a year for year transfer value.

29f. The death in service provision that applies in the BBC should be honoured by Siemens.

I look forward to our meeting next Wednesday.

Yours sincerely

Gerry Morrissey
Assistant General Secretary