BBC IT staff have voted to take industrial action over
the sale of the BBC’s technology division.
Eighty-four per cent of members at technician’s union Bectu
voted on Friday (9 July) to strike over the sale of BBC technology.
The results of the vote came one day after Siemens Business
Services was announced as the preferred supplier for the £2bn IT
outsourcing deal.
Strike action by technical staff could cause serious disruption
to the BBC’s programmes broadcast from its television centre in
West London and the digital TV service Freeview.
Bectu is concerned that hundreds of IT staff will loose their
jobs following the sale of the BBC’s technology division, which is
due to go ahead in September. It is also calling on Siemens to give
a three-year guarantee of employment terms and conditions for BBC
staff transferring to Siemens.
The BBC said it had been notified of the industrial action vote
but said it had not given official notice of any strike action. It
added that it was in final contract negotiations with Siemens
Business Services continued to consult Bectu.
The BBC added that it had has prepared contingency plans to
ensure cover for affected areas should strike action take
place.
Siemens declined to comment.