BBC strike to black out Pope

Thousands of workers want to boycott the Papal visit in September over plans to cut their pensions.

Also threatened with blackouts are live broadcasts of the Last Night Of The Proms on September 11, Radio 5 Live’s coverage of the Ryder Cup golf tournament beginning on October 1 and all three party political conferences, which begin in September.

The proposed action during Pope Benedict XVl’s tour will be a huge embarrassment to the corporation. It is his first state visit to Britain and the country’s 7.5 million Catholics will be infuriated if the historic occasion is caught up in the BBC’s latest controversy.

Staff there want to hit back at director general Mark Thompson who, the Sunday Express revealed last week, enjoys a secret pension pot despite asking them to accept a cut.

The unprecedented action would form part of strike plans by broadcasting unions. Ballot papers are being sent out on Thursday with a result expected by September 9.

Last week the Sunday Express exposed how the BBC’s top executives receive top-up payments to get round a pension cap imposed on the rest of the staff.

Mr Thompson earns £668,000 a year plus another £163,000 as a pension perk listed in accounts as “other remuneration”. The 11-strong board and 30 other senior executives also receive the “other remuneration”.

Up 19,000 BBC staff who do not get the perk are furious at being asked to accept a one per cent cap on their much smaller pensions.

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the union Bectu said: “Following the revelations in the Sunday Express about the hypocrisy of the board of governors, feeling among staff has become more entrenched.

“If the vote is for a strike then we will focus action on key broadcasts. The Last Night Of The Proms is on September 11, two days after the vote, and the Pope’s visit is also a clear target for us.

“The BBC cannot ride roughshod over the staff and expect their amazing good will to last for ever.

“It is our hope that the BBC back down on the pension cap, but feelings are running very high.”

A spokesman for the Catholic Church said: “This is a very significant visit and it is very important that the Pope is seen and heard by the people.”

The BBC said the pension changes were essential to tackle the swelling deficit in the pension scheme, est­imated at £2billion com­pared with £470million two years ago.

A BBC spokesman said: “We believe the proposals we are making will deliver a pension scheme that is sustainable, affordable and flexible for BBC staff and the licence fee payer.

“We know staff have concerns about the proposed changes but we will continue to listen and try to address these.”