Union's concern over BBC's unpaid Olympics scheme

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Broadcasting union Bectu has complained that 500 BBC staff who volunteer to help with the coverage of the Olympic Games will be required to take the time out of their annual leave entitlement.

The corporation is offering staff, in any BBC department, the chance to volunteer for roles helping with the broadcaster's coverage of the events this summer.

The tasks include greeting guests, logging tapes and general runner duties. Staff who are interested will not be paid and must take the time out of their holiday. No expenses are offered.

Bectu said it had held discussions with BBC management about the scheme, believing that everyone involved should be paid to work on the Olympics and should not be required to take annual leave.

The union has now sought assurances from the BBC that the volunteers will not be used to fill paid staff jobs, and that the volunteers will be given proper training.

Bectu official Helen Ryan said in a release : "It's regrettable that the BBC will not change its position on individuals needing to take annual leave. However our approach on this has to be balanced with the real interest that BBC staff outside of broadcast critical roles have in taking part.

"We are aware that members wish to get involved with the Games by volunteering to take annual leave. What is essential now is that they understand that participation is voluntary and that no work done under this scheme should replace that normally done by a paid member of staff not on annual leave."

The Olympics volunteering scheme opened last month and is available to all BBC staff on fixed-term or rolling contracts.

If there are still spaces then freelances, those on casual contracts and members of the public who have expressed interest may be considered.

The BBC insists that the scheme is voluntary and that no one will be compelled to offer their services.