BBC Wales union members have suspended strike plans after staff appealed redundancy plans
Credit: Danny Lawson/PAA planned 24-hour strike at BBC Wales has been suspended after broadcast union BECTU reached a temporary agreement with management today (19 August).
Representatives from the union and the BBC agreed that the planned strike – due to take place on the 26 and 27 August – would be suspended pending the results of appeals by staff at risk of redundancy.
Five members of staff – four editors and one assistant producer – were due to be made redundant on 31 August.
The union claims there are vacancies within the departments from which staff are due to be made redundant, and are demanding those at risk be given six weeks' training by the BBC to qualify them to take up new roles.
BECTU Wales official David Donovan said today that the union "expects the position of our members to be vindicated".
"We are not just flying a kite here, we believe we have a good case for our members.
"We maintain our mandate, and we retain our right for industrial and legal action if the BBC moves to dismiss our members.
"But for now we await the outcome of the appeal."
Donovan said the union was expecting to hear from management over the appeals on 25 August, but the BBC could not confirm the date.
A statement from BBC Wales today confirmed that the strike had been suspended.
The union will have seven days to respond to the BBC decision over the five appeals once it is announced, during which time the staff can not be dismissed.
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