Category: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Date: 27.05.2005
Printable version
As you may have heard on the news, the talks at ACAS about the dispute between the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and its unions ended this morning after 20 hours. We finished the session shortly after six this morning. I spent several hours with union officials myself last night in an effort to find ways of resolving the dispute.
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Although we made it clear that we could not wish away the reality of the need for change or the scale of the change programme, we approached the talks very flexibly and determined to find a resolution if at all possible. We hope the result of these talks is the first step in a new and productive relationship with the unions.
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We tabled a number of fresh commitments and assurances, including:
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a commitment, if the unions agree to the immediate launch of voluntary redundancy schemes in divisions, that no compulsory redundancies will be effected before 1 July 2006 at the earliest
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a commitment to review, towards the end of year 2 of the savings plan, the planned post reductions in the content divisions for year 3. The review would examine if new posts created by savings and reinvestment could mitigate the total jobs that will need to be reduced in that third year
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a commitment that we will not sell Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Resources in whole or in part before 1 June 2007 (note: no decision to sell Resources has been taken - we are still reviewing options)
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a commitment that people issues will be a top priority in the sale of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Broadcast and in outsourcing arrangements.
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This offer moves significantly to address the issues and concerns which the unions have raised with us. We have told them that we have no further movement to make, no matter how long the dispute continues. A copy of my letter to the unions which sets out our position in its entirety is attached to this e-mail.
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This is a critical moment for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. We face unprecedented change in our industry. We also face unprecedented public scrutiny as our future and the new Charter are debated. But I believe we have the chance to work together to build a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ which is stronger and more creatively successful than ever. Unions and management have both worked very hard over the past 24 hours to reach a settlement. The suspension of next week's action is very good news. I very much hope the unions' meeting on Tuesday will now agree to ending the disputes.
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Mark
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The chart below is in . You may need Adobe Acrobat software to read PDF files which can be obtained free from the
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Letter to the Unions
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