NUJ reacts to High Court judgment on BBC pension scheme rules
The union welcomes the High Court's judgment on the BBC’s application to seek a ruling on the correct interpretation of one of the Pension Scheme Rules.
The NUJ said: "The court’s determination and clarification backs up the NUJ’s position that the pension scheme rules protect members from potential detrimental changes to benefits, and restrict the ability of the BBC to make changes that could lead to current and future members of the scheme being worse off in retirement.
"The NUJ hopes the BBC does not further waste licence fee money on an appeal to this decision. In the meantime, the union will reflect on the judgment with the NUJ’s legal team, and alongside the Representative Beneficiary’s legal advisors, as the BBC determines its next steps.
"If the BBC decides to appeal, the court will hear the application on 15 September.
"The BBC formally began the court process last May by submitting a number of questions to the High Court, with hearings on 3, 4 and 10 May 2023, with other two parties – namely the BBC Pension Trust Ltd and the Representative Beneficiary.
"The case hinged around whether – and if so, how – Scheme Rule 19 could be used to change the benefits Active Members might receive for future service or to increase the contributions they may have to make. This could involve changing the way benefits are built up and funded, or even closure of the Scheme to future accrual.”
"The legal case is part of a wider ongoing pension review being carried out by the BBC. The NUJ will continue to liaise with the BBC and take part in any briefings or discussions over that process."
NUJ members can continue to raise queries by emailing [email protected].