By Jo Best, 29 July 2004 12:25
NEWS The first period of industrial action by BBC Technology workers has been called off.
Members of the Bectu trade union had planned to strike on 30 and 31 July, as a protest against the outsourcing of the Beeb's technology unit to Siemens Business Services. The Bectu technology workers objected to Siemens' proposed pension and changes to working terms and conditions.
Siemens has since revised its offer and, until union members can vote on whether to accept the new deal, the strike has been suspended.
Siemens' second offer guarantees existing terms and conditions for three years, promises workers won't have to move locations and gives better pension benefits for some staff.
While Bectu says the revised deal is a strong move in the right direction, a second period of industrial action, to take place on 13 and 14 August - the first two days of the Olympic Games, is still scheduled to go ahead.
The BBC has said it has contingency plans in place if the proposed walkout does happen and maintains "the deal is still on track to complete this autumn".
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1. Brian Nesbit
What a joke, do the management of the BBC really think that Seimens can do a better job running the technology group of the Beeb? Watch this space it will all fall around their ears and we the public will have to pick up the pieces to maintain a good service or the Beeb will disintegrate into a blob of uncontrollable jelly. Another National Rail fiasco is about to happen. Why not give the contract to India?