Bectusky responds to speculation

about new CEO

BECTU is concerned at the possible destabilising effect of current speculation over the replacement for current BSkyB CEO Tony Ball. We share some of the city’s reservations but are primarily concerned that management should be working to deliver improvements to staff welfare on the back of the company’s recently posted £260 million profits.

While Tony Ball will leave so much to do to improve the quality of staff/management communications and working conditions – he is a former trade union activist himself - he has proved to be a stabilising influence for the company.

BECTU has always sought to work together with BskyB to improve staff conditions at work and the union hopes that changes at the helm will bring new opportunities in this area.

“Having a man, with Rupert Murdoch’s blood running through his veins, steering the company, is quite a daunting prospect” said BECTU representative Micheál Mac Suibhne.

BECTU’s Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrissey added “ There is no question that Tony Ball has delivered for shareholders and has met and exceeded targets for the company’s performance. Sky staff have been central to that success. However the reality is that they – and many of them are BECTU members – do not believe that they have shared in that success nor that sufficient attention been paid to improving working conditions. We hope that Tony Ball’s successor will recognise the need for change and will take advantage of new European and domestic legislation to work with BECTU for the good of staff and the company.”

Micheál went on to say “The trade press claims that Tony has made £32 million during his 4 years at Sky. If just 10% of that was invested in staff development then the company’s overall performance, including in the area of health and safety would be much improved. Sadly, fat cattery and nepotism seem to be the stories of current interest rather than the day to day problems raised by the people on the ‘factory floor”.