Union slams BBC over scheme contributions

The Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematography and Theatre Union said the BBC would no longer contribute £184m to the scheme in repair payments as previously promised as it was now in surplus.

The BBC announced a £275m surplus in its actuarial valuation – published in June – but, despite this, has gone ahead with plans to increase members’ contribution rates.

BECTU assistant general secretary Luke Crawley said it was unacceptable to expect union members to put more money into a scheme which was already in surplus.

Crawley added: "It adds insult to injury to try and increase members’ contributions when the only benefit will be a reduction in the BBC’s pension bill."

BECTU and the BCC reached an agreement in January which acknowledged that contribution rates would have to increase from both employer and employee to maintain the scheme’s surplus.

But BECTU said this agreement would have to be reviewed once the actuarial valuation was published – which then revealed the scheme’s windfall surplus.

The union said it believed only the collective strength of its members across the BCC would be able to produce a "satisfactory outcome" – but warned if the BBC did not take its claims seriously then industrial action would likely follow.