BBC staff fear meagre pay rise after bosses forgo own increase

"Part of our [savings] plans is that members of the BBC executive committee will receive no annual pay award this year, said Rhodri Talfan Davies, the interim director general, in an all-staff video meeting session. [This is] recognising the scale of the financial challenge we have at the moment. The corporation is in the process of formulating plans to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years."

"Davies was asked about what impact the cost-cutting drive would have on a promised pay rise for the BBC's more than 20,000 staff. The corporation has been in talks with staff unions, who have made a pay claim for a rise of 4.5%. Pay rises for rank and file staff, the vast majority of employees, come into force on 1 August each year. If negotiations are not finalised in time, pay is backdated after a deal is reached."

"We are in discussions with the trade unions regarding this year's pay settlement, said Davies, addressing concerns of a pay freeze raised by staff during the video session. We are committed to introducing an annual pay increase. But what I would say, these are exceptional circumstances at the moment, so we are going to be realistic and prudent about what is possible."

"Employees have been told that the corporation's executive committee its 12 highest-paid bosses including the director general, who were paid almost 5m in total last year will have their pay frozen this year amid a 600m cost-cutting drive. BBC staff have been told their bosses will forgo a pay rise this year but fear the freeze will lead to a meagre increase for the rank and file, who have been urged to be realistic about the outcome of union negotiations."

BBC staff were told executive committee pay will be frozen this year as part of a £600m cost-cutting drive. The freeze applies to the 12 highest-paid executives, including the director general, who received almost £5m in total last year. Rhodri Talfan Davies said no annual pay award will be given to the executive committee to reflect the financial challenge. The corporation is preparing plans to cut as many as 2,000 jobs, the biggest downsizing in 15 years. Staff unions have made a pay claim for a 4.5% rise, with rank-and-file pay increases normally taking effect on 1 August and being backdated if negotiations finish later. Davies said annual pay increases remain a commitment, but exceptional circumstances require realism about what is possible.

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