tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post115244596656007639..comments2010-03-21T21:07:07.265ZPliablenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1152532092929919712006-07-10T12:48:12.930+01:002006-07-10T12:48:12.930+01:00Meanwhile, despite the mistakes the pay rises keep coming ...<BR/><BR/><I><B>BBC chairman backs pay increases</B> <BR/><BR/>BBC chairman Michael Grade has defended the recent pay increases awarded to the corporation's top executives.<BR/> <BR/>Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, he said the increases represented "a lot of money" but were "not as much as they could all be earning elsewhere". <BR/><BR/>"Pretty well everybody in the BBC works for less than they could in the private sector. There is no reason why their loyalty should be punished," he said. <BR/><BR/>Concerns over BBC pay were "an annual ritual", he continued. <BR/><BR/>Broadcasting unions meet on Monday to consider their response to BBC moves to close its final pension scheme to new members. <BR/><BR/>It is likely they will agree to ballot their members on strike action. <BR/><BR/>Mr Grade said he was "very sorry" that people objected to the salary increases, but said it was BBC policy "to pay the market median". <BR/><BR/>He said the Board of Governors had to act "in the long-term interests of the corporation". <BR/><BR/>The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has responded angrily to the rises, which - according to the BBC's annual report - puts its executive base pay at 4.5% above the market average. <BR/><BR/>"BBC executives have awarded themselves inflation-busting salary increases at a time when staff are being offered a below-inflation pay rise," it said. <BR/><BR/>But the BBC said those figures did not take into account caps on bonuses that bring total pay and benefits below the market median. <BR/><BR/>Mr Grade's own salary will rise by more than £57,000 when he becomes a trustee in January under terms set by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. </I><BR/><BR/>Story from BBC NEWS:<BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/5164656.stmPliablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.com