Deal or no deal

Hyperbole, I think is the word. The union side went into this week's "showdown" on BBC pay with an embargoed ballot result on strike action. BECTU's  Gerry Morrissey had said “Since we started the ballot, the events that occurred at the Public Affairs Committee have resulted in significant feedback to the unions which have, in our view, had an effect on the ballot result and the subsequent considerations undertaken by our representatives. In the meantime we are embargoing the ballot results.”

Actually, Mr Morrissey's back pocket at the talks contained a vote to accept the previous offer - 67% of those voting, voting in favour. There's no figures yet I can find from the NUJ.

So the odd concessions in this new settlement are based more on the likelihood that a further ballot (against the background of continuing Public Affairs Commitee inquiries) would go the other way. The sandpapering of the deal includes no moves on a faster track to redundancy (for lower ranks, that is); an uplift of 1% to the base of grades 2-11; and a promise that Lord Hall himself will continue to take part in talks this Autumn about structural changes to pay and grading.

Will Lucy Adams still be there ?  The HR Director can't really be looking forward to another kicking from Ma Hodge; it wouldn't be surprising if there were already tentative moves to choreograph an exit strategy.