Circumstances

Timing is everything in union negotiations. Yesterday, the NUJ went into session with BBC DG Lord Hall and new HR boss Valerie Hughes D'Aeth with a strike mandate in their pockets. Seven day's notice is required before a walkout - spookily, a certain referendum was exactly seven days hence.

Director of News James "Hardman" Harding was in Portland, Oregon. So the union, having been told initially there might only be a three-month recruitment freeze, came away with things frozen til the end of March, with, get this, "exceptional appointments to have joint union approval". Having been told the BBC never says yes to the phrase "no compulsory redundancies", they came away with a moratorium on compulsory redundancies until the end of March.

Those happy to take voluntary redundancy get a little bonus; they can stay on the pay roll at least til January 1st - sometimes these extra months can make all the difference to a deal.

Something called a "Work Pressure Review" is being set up between management and unions, and, to keep the Hardman in line, the DG has agreed to a review meeting on all matters before the end of the year.

• Mr Harding's return from the bracing intellectual environment of the US West Coast is eagerly anticipated amongst senior news staff; he went away having conducted lightning interviews for three new top jobs before taking the big bird, and candidates are getting sweaty.