Workplace news in brief


Strike threat at BBC over pensions

Members of Bectu, NUJ and Unite unions at the BBC are planning strike action on 5-6 October and 19-20 October. These coincide with the Tory Party conference and the public sector spending review.

This is because of the BBC’s attempt to cut the pensions of 19,000 staff whilst paying the 15 most senior executives £4.76 million last year. Director general Mark Thompson has already made some concessions on this, following a majority for action in the strike ballot. These resulted in plans to strike during the Lib Dem conference being called off.

There will be a ten-day period of consultation with staff from 20 September before the unions meet together on 1 October to approve strike action.

Hastings demo against management attacks

Civil service union PCS branch secretary Sam Buckley is the fifth union officer at the Child Support Agency office in Hastings to be sacked on trumped-up charges since 2007.

PCS, backed by Hastings trades council, have called a demonstration and rally for Saturday 18 September. Assemble 1pm, at Hastings Pier.

Postal workers say no to closure

At a meeting in Stevenage last week over 70 postal workers met to hear from their branch officials, their regional representative and the secretary of Stevenage TUC. The issue was the threatened closure of the sorting offices in Stevenage, Watford and Welwyn Garden City.

All the work and jobs are due to go to Hemel Hempstead, only delivery would remain.

The meeting decided to launch a campaign including petitioning and having a march and rally in the town in six weeks time. It was clear the mood was ‘enough is enough, we have to make a stand’. With that spirit the bosses will have their hands full in the coming months.

Stevenage TUC will discuss at its next meeting how to support the CWU.

Steve Glennon