BBC Cairo staff reaches agreement on wages with management following a series of strikes

Ahram Online , Tuesday 19 Sep 2023

The Egyptian staff at the BBC Cairo office reached an agreement over their salaries with the management in London following a series of strikes and negotiations, Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate announced Tuesday.

File Photo: Head of Egypt s Journalists syndicate Khaled El-Balshy with the BBC Cairo office on strike. Photo: Khaled El-Balshy

The agreement -- reached following three rounds of strikes and two weeks of negotiations -- provides 75-142 percent salary increases for entry-level positions, added the syndicate.

The BBC management also agreed to provide all employees with an equal transportation allowance and double allowances for night shifter workers.

Under the agreement, the BBC-sponsored health insurance will also be expanded to cover an additional family member for each employee, noted the syndicate.

Additionally, the BBC management agreed to review its "volatile markets" policy, which addresses economic downturns in countries where the BBC operates.

The review is expected to be completed by December 2023. However, it will be applied retroactively to BBC Cairo employees starting in September 2023, according to the syndicate.

The Head of the Egyptian Journalist Syndicate, Khaled El-Balshy, attended the negotiation process.

El-Balshy praised the BBC Cairo staff for their unity and determination in achieving their demands and for their respect for the law, noted the statement.

The staff at the BBC Cairo office started a gradual strike, beginning with a one-day strike in June, a three-day strike in July, and a ten-day strike in August.