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| BBC in real trouble over equal pay, Carrie Gracie tells MPs | BBC in real trouble over equal pay, Carrie Gracie tells MPs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former China editor accuses corporation of failing to live its values as it faces 300 claims | Former China editor accuses corporation of failing to live its values as it faces 300 claims |
| Graham Ruddick Media editor | Graham Ruddick Media editor |
| Wed 31 Jan 2018 16.38 GMT | Wed 31 Jan 2018 16.38 GMT |
| Last modified on Wed 31 Jan 2018 17.26 GMT | |
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| The BBC is “in real trouble” over the equal pay row that has rocked the organisation, Carrie Gracie has said in extremely damaging evidence to MPs. | |
| The former China editor for the corporation made a series of damning claims about its management in an extraordinary hearing, including that they were not living up to the BBC’s values, that they had briefed against her by saying she worked part-time, and that women were being made to feel belittled and their work was being marginalised. | The former China editor for the corporation made a series of damning claims about its management in an extraordinary hearing, including that they were not living up to the BBC’s values, that they had briefed against her by saying she worked part-time, and that women were being made to feel belittled and their work was being marginalised. |
| Her comments will increase the pressure on the BBC over pay equality, which began last summer when the broadcaster’s pay list revealed that two-thirds of its best paid on-air staff were men. | Her comments will increase the pressure on the BBC over pay equality, which began last summer when the broadcaster’s pay list revealed that two-thirds of its best paid on-air staff were men. |
| A long-awaited analysis of the pay of 824 on-air stars by accountancy firm PwC. This was promised following the backlash to the publication of the BBC’s pay list last summer, which showed that two-thirds of its best-paid on-air stars were men. | A long-awaited analysis of the pay of 824 on-air stars by accountancy firm PwC. This was promised following the backlash to the publication of the BBC’s pay list last summer, which showed that two-thirds of its best-paid on-air stars were men. |
| It says there is "no evidence" of gender bias but acknowledges "anomalies" that may create the impression of gendered unfairness. The BBC has set out a five-point plan for resolving the issue including new criteria for pay decisions and greater transparency. | It says there is "no evidence" of gender bias but acknowledges "anomalies" that may create the impression of gendered unfairness. The BBC has set out a five-point plan for resolving the issue including new criteria for pay decisions and greater transparency. |
| No, far from it. The BBC Women campaign group says the report lacks transparency and does not properly tackle equal pay, partly because it does not say which employees and roles it is specifically comparing. Other critics have accused the BBC of obfuscating about the pay row. | No, far from it. The BBC Women campaign group says the report lacks transparency and does not properly tackle equal pay, partly because it does not say which employees and roles it is specifically comparing. Other critics have accused the BBC of obfuscating about the pay row. |
| Tony Hall, the director-general of the BBC, will be questioned by MPs on Wednesday about the pay row. Carrie Gracie will also appear after resigning as the BBC’s China editor in protest at its “secretive and illegal” pay culture. Beyond these hearings - which promise to be fiery - the BBC will consult will staff about its new proposals before they are finalised. It faces a collective grievance about pay inequality led by the National Union of Journalists. | Tony Hall, the director-general of the BBC, will be questioned by MPs on Wednesday about the pay row. Carrie Gracie will also appear after resigning as the BBC’s China editor in protest at its “secretive and illegal” pay culture. Beyond these hearings - which promise to be fiery - the BBC will consult will staff about its new proposals before they are finalised. It faces a collective grievance about pay inequality led by the National Union of Journalists. |
| Gracie resigned as China editor earlier this month in protest at the “secretive and illegal” pay culture at the BBC. She said that when she took the China job she was told she would be paid the same as male international editors. | Gracie resigned as China editor earlier this month in protest at the “secretive and illegal” pay culture at the BBC. She said that when she took the China job she was told she would be paid the same as male international editors. |
| In a hearing with MPs on the digital, culture, sport and media committee, Gracie revealed that an internal grievance case with the BBC had concluded last week that she was “inadvertently” not paid enough over the previous four years as China editor but that she had been “in development” for the first three. The 55-year-old was offered a £45,000 pay rise but has rejected the offer. | In a hearing with MPs on the digital, culture, sport and media committee, Gracie revealed that an internal grievance case with the BBC had concluded last week that she was “inadvertently” not paid enough over the previous four years as China editor but that she had been “in development” for the first three. The 55-year-old was offered a £45,000 pay rise but has rejected the offer. |
| “Its an insult to add to injury,” Gracie said of the findings. “I would never have gone to China on those terms.” | “Its an insult to add to injury,” Gracie said of the findings. “I would never have gone to China on those terms.” |
| She told MPs she “had resisted doing the job because I thought it wasn’t the great time for my children”, who were starting A-level studies. | She told MPs she “had resisted doing the job because I thought it wasn’t the great time for my children”, who were starting A-level studies. |
| She said the then head of news, James Harding, “did what he called ‘getting down on bended knee’ to persuade me to go”. | She said the then head of news, James Harding, “did what he called ‘getting down on bended knee’ to persuade me to go”. |
| “The BBC was very concerned to put more senior women and older women on-air. I could see their point. I thought we did need [that]. | “The BBC was very concerned to put more senior women and older women on-air. I could see their point. I thought we did need [that]. |
| “I said at the time that I had to be paid equally. I knew that we had been underpaid by comparison to male peers. Not absolutely, but we knew there was inequality. We didn’t know the details because the BBC is extremely secretive on pay. | “I said at the time that I had to be paid equally. I knew that we had been underpaid by comparison to male peers. Not absolutely, but we knew there was inequality. We didn’t know the details because the BBC is extremely secretive on pay. |
| “I knew I’d give the China job every last ounce of my skin and stamina. I knew I would do that job at least as good as any man. | “I knew I’d give the China job every last ounce of my skin and stamina. I knew I would do that job at least as good as any man. |
| “I insisted on equal pay. I thought I had won a commitment to pay parity when I set off to China which is why I got such a shock [when BBC salaries were revealed].” | “I insisted on equal pay. I thought I had won a commitment to pay parity when I set off to China which is why I got such a shock [when BBC salaries were revealed].” |
| The BBC’s pay review showed Gracie was being paid £130,000, substantially less than Jon Sopel, the North America editor, and Jeremy Bowen, the Middle East editor, who received between £200,000 and £250,000, and £150,000 and £200,000 respectively. | The BBC’s pay review showed Gracie was being paid £130,000, substantially less than Jon Sopel, the North America editor, and Jeremy Bowen, the Middle East editor, who received between £200,000 and £250,000, and £150,000 and £200,000 respectively. |
| Gracie told the committee: “I would like to put on record that I admire the work of my male peers as international editors. | Gracie told the committee: “I would like to put on record that I admire the work of my male peers as international editors. |
| “I’ve been proud to stand alongside them as an international editor for four years. What I want to talk about more is the sense in which my case is just an example of a bigger problem. | “I’ve been proud to stand alongside them as an international editor for four years. What I want to talk about more is the sense in which my case is just an example of a bigger problem. |
| “I was a senior person who they really wanted to keep in position … if the BBC can’t sort it out for me, then how can it sort it out for more vulnerable people who don’t have a public profile?” | “I was a senior person who they really wanted to keep in position … if the BBC can’t sort it out for me, then how can it sort it out for more vulnerable people who don’t have a public profile?” |
| Gracie, who was visibly upset during the hearing, said of the BBC’s handling of the pay crisis: “If we are not prepared to look at ourselves honestly, how can we be trusted to look at anything else honestly. | Gracie, who was visibly upset during the hearing, said of the BBC’s handling of the pay crisis: “If we are not prepared to look at ourselves honestly, how can we be trusted to look at anything else honestly. |
| “We are not living our values. It makes me angry, it makes me disappointed, it makes me desperately anxious about the future of the BBC.” | “We are not living our values. It makes me angry, it makes me disappointed, it makes me desperately anxious about the future of the BBC.” |
| Gracie said her worst day at the BBC was after her grievance hearing in November. The notes from the hearing were “nine pages of errors and spin” and “that was the point I realised we [the BBC] are really in trouble”. | Gracie said her worst day at the BBC was after her grievance hearing in November. The notes from the hearing were “nine pages of errors and spin” and “that was the point I realised we [the BBC] are really in trouble”. |
| The situation at the BBC was unsustainable: “The first defeat is that many women will leave.” | The situation at the BBC was unsustainable: “The first defeat is that many women will leave.” |
| Gracie said the BBC was “stumbling towards a Greek tragedy” in its handling of equal pay claims and said it faced losing employment tribunals. | Gracie said the BBC was “stumbling towards a Greek tragedy” in its handling of equal pay claims and said it faced losing employment tribunals. |
| Michelle Stanistreet, the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, told the committee the BBC faced 297 equal pay claims, including 133 on-air staff and 151 off-air staff. | Michelle Stanistreet, the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, told the committee the BBC faced 297 equal pay claims, including 133 on-air staff and 151 off-air staff. |
| BBC | BBC |
| Pay | Pay |
| Equal pay | Equal pay |
| Gender | Gender |
| Inequality | Inequality |
| Work & careers | Work & careers |
| news | news |
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