Hardship fund opened for BBC dispute

BECTU has created a hardship fund to ease the financial difficulties of members who support strike action, particularly those on low pay.

Claims to the fund, which will need to be supported by enough financial data to illustrate individual difficulties, will be accepted from May 24 onwards, the day after the first BBC strike.

Members who wish to make claims against the fund will be asked to provide their details on a pro-forma sheet which will be available from BECTU.

The fund has been established in response to queries from many members who fully support strike action, but are worried that the loss of earnings will leave them in debt.

Individual, unsolicited, donations have already been received and BECTU's national executive will next week consider how much of the union's own reserves to commit to the hardship fund.

Members who wish to make donations, if for example they are scheduled off on May 23 and facing no deductions, can do so now, sending cheques payable to "BECTU" to Trevor King, Finance Officer, BECTU, 373 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9BT.