LONDON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Unions representing BBC employees have abandoned plans for a two-day strike during the annual British Conservative Party conference.
The National Union of Journalists said the decision was made following a "significant new offer" to settle a dispute about pension changes, the BBC reported. The NUJ said plans for another two-day job action later in October would be revived if its members reject the offer.
Ed Miliband, who was elected leader of the Labor Party recently with union support, called on the NUJ and BECTU, which represents broadcast employees, to stay on the job while the Conservatives were meeting. He said union members would not appear to be impartial if they engaged in job action that would affect television and radio coverage of the Conservatives.
Several high-profile employees made similar warnings.
Mark Thompson, the BBC general director, said the new pension offer is a final one.
"We have listened carefully to you throughout our consultation on pension reform and have adjusted our proposals as a result," he said.
