DQF: BBC To Respond To Unions

BBC management are expected to respond by 14 October to demands tabled by the unions last week after the release of the cuts plan, Delivering Quality First (DQF).
The recognised unions - BECTU, the NUJ and Unite - have requested that BBC managers provide full disclosure of the proposed changes to staff terms and conditions for discussion by the National Joint Committee (the highest level meeting of managers and union officials in the BBC).
In addition, the unions have insisted that all arbitrary dates for the implementation of changes affecting staff be lifted before detailed consultations start.
BECTU reacted angrily to the plan to cut 2000 posts and to reduce programme funding across the BBC in response to a licence fee frozen until 2017. Speaking last week, General Secretary, Gerry Morrissey said: “The proposed salami-slicing cuts to services will destroy quality, destroy jobs and ultimately destroy the BBC.
“BBC staff have been working harder for several years to maintain the BBC’s reputation against a background of a minimum of 3 per cent efficiency savings every year. BECTU does not believe that today’s level of output can be maintained, at the same quality and to the satisfaction of the audience with the level of proposed cuts.”
BECTU believes DQF will do the opposite of what is promised.
Meanwhile BECTU is calling a series of staff meetings across the UK at key BBC sites starting this week.
All information relating to the union's work on DQF will be posted in the dedicated campaign area: www.bectu.org.uk/dqf
(BMcN/CD)