02 Informed


Michelle’s Message


MARK THOMAS


BBC’s sisterhood supporting in style


As I passed through security at Westminster’s Portcullis House, there were some very familiar faces following me in...


It was the BBC’s presenting sisterhood, who were there in strength to demonstrate their solid support for Carrie Gracie, the corporation’s former China editor, who was testifying to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Commitee hearing. We were both giving evidence on the BBC and pay. Ours was the first session up – listed


for an hour – to be followed by director general, Tony Hall, his deputy, Anne Bulford, the newly appointed head of news and current affairs, Fran Unsworth, and Sir David Clememti, chair of the board.


Since the new year the joint unions at the BBC have been involved in regular meetings with the corporation to discuss its review of On Air Talent – negotiating over its approach to equal pay, tax arrangements, and contracts for its on- air staff and freelances who have mostly been outside the unions’ bargaining unit for many years. Te growing external pressure on the BBC has been clearly felt in the glazed offices of New Broadcasting


BBC’s presenting sisterhood


House where the director general and executives have held daily meetings about the spiralling crisis. Te day before the DCMS hearing, that crisis had been given new legs on publication of the long-awaited report from accountancy giant, PricewaterhouseCoopers, which was quickly blasted by staff. Riddled with the same flaws as the equal pay audit done for the rest of the staff population last year, it seemed more an exercise in providing the BBC with clean hands than it did an honest and transparent reckoning of the corporation’s equal pay problem. Tis “Nothing to see here, guv” approach was the last thing the BBC needed, given the massive crisis of trust among its own staff, particularly women. Te 140 plus – and counting – women who have raised complaints through the BBC know all too well that there is a problem. No amount of spin can hide that – nor can pay inequities be glossed over as “non-deliberate”. So, no surprise then, to learn later that BBC newsrooms were glued to the televisions when the hearing began. Just before we took our seats, the BBC’s entourage had passed by and we all exchanged hellos before they were shepherded to an adjoining room to watch on a screen and await their turn. A turn that took quite some time – another two-and-a-half hours to be precise. In a frank, angry and at times emotional testimony, Carrie described how she was offered an extra £45,000, plus £100,000 back-pay, but the BBC continued to deny it was a case of pay discrimination. Carrie has been clear throughout that it wasn’t about money – it was parity she sought. During the commitee’s questioning I


Mark Tomas


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