BBC staff claim executives have "ignored" the concerns they raised over controversial plans to overhaul its pension scheme, after an internal email from the BBC People director, Lucy Adams, appeared to offer no new concessions.

Adams's message has been sent to all corporation staff as part of the consultation process on proposals to plug a pension deficit of between £1.5bn and £2bn.

Last Monday, Adams and the director general, Mark Thompson, held a pensions forum with 150 BBC staff, which was described by insiders as "difficult".

The key issues facing staff are the proposals to cap the BBC's final salary pension benefits for existing members from April 2011 and to close the scheme to new employees.

Changes proposed in late June include breaking the link between final salary and pension benefits by capping pensionable salary growth at 1% a year, whatever pay increases an employee received.

Generous pension provision has long been regarded by BBC staff as compensation for the fact that salaries at the corporation are generally lower than those at its commercial rivals.

During the forum some staff suggested new ways to try and plug the pension gap such as increasing the age at which they retire or putting a cap on pension payments.

They also asked for the BBC for more financial details, as seven years ago the corporation revealed it had a £1bn pension deficit but the fund was deemed to be "healthy" by the then finance director, John Smith.

In her email today Adams instead offered another forum and more meetings with the BBC executive board in September – after the result of a ballot of union staff over industrial action.

Ballot papers went out on 5 August and the result is due to be announced on 1 September. Thompson is due to make a further announcement about pensions when the BBC's consultation with staff is concluded at the end of September.

Adams said: "Following positive feedback about last Monday's forum, we are planning another live event for September which will include independent comment and analysis, plus an opportunity for staff to put their questions to a panel.

"We are also planning a series of open forum sessions with members of the executive board and other directors where you will be invited to discuss pensions and any other topical issues about the BBC you'd like to talk about. These will begin in early September."

She also said that in-house magazine Ariel is preparing reports on the issue.

During last week's forum, Thompson proposed concessions, including reviewing the pension top-ups made to senior executives.

However, there is still anger at the proposals, with one insider saying Adams's email showed that staff's alternative suggestions have been largely "ignored".

Unions are hopeful for a large turnout for the vote, which could affect the BBC Proms next month if industrial action goes ahead.


By Tara Conlan
Source:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/17/bbc-pensions