The consequence is that the cleaners, 70 per cent of them women, are employed on wages significantly below the Living Wage.Speaking to a motion on equal pay at conference, Natasha Hirst called for greater transparency in pay, so that women can make informed decisions about whether they are being paid fairly and properly. The case will be heard at Central London Employment Tribunal over 7 days and will focus on Samira’s contracts on the BBC programme Newswatch, which she has presented since 2012. By way of contrast, Samira Ahmed was paid £440 per programme from 2012. She was sharp, to the point and never less than a delight to work with.”Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK, said: “Samira has a rare talent to cut to the chase and expose the real issues at the heart of a matter.
On Front Row her male comparator was being paid 50 per cent more than her. She has just concluded work on a 3-part documentary series for BBC 4 on The Persians, the first major TV series of its kind shot in Iran for 40 years.Samira previously secured an agreement from the BBC to full backdated pay with male comparators for her work on Front Row on Radio 4 and Night Waves/ Free Thinking on Radio 3. I’d also like to thank my union the NUJ, my lawyers and the many people who have supported my case for equal pay for like work and work of equal value. Other colleagues across the wider broadcasting and media industry have offered Samira their support and solidarity in her stand for equal pay, including Sandi Toksvig, Alan Rusbridger, Andrew Copson, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and the Right Reverend Nicholas Baines.Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said: “I was shocked and surprised to find out Samira was paid so much less for Newswatch than Points of View. Share with a friend, colleague or comrade!
At a fringe meeting, organised by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group held the previous day at conference, Caroline Underhill, of Thompsons Solicitors and one of Samira’s legal team, said equal pay law was complicated. “Information is power. “The concept of equal pay is hard to understand and apply in practice,” she said. Ahmed was cheered when she arrived at … “I talk a lot to young journalists about the importance of being a member of a union,” she said.She was overwhelmed by the support she received from colleagues, fellow presenters, men as well as women, who were prepared to walk arm in arm with her, each day to the tribunal hearing, she added.In answer to questions, she said it had been fine going back to work.
Both programmes were presenter-led programmes just under 15 minutes long, which considered audience feedback on BBC programmes and offered the public the opportunity to air their opinions on BBC content. I couldn’t help hugging Michelle.”Samira had successfully challenged the BBC over being paid half the amount of her male predecessor on Front Row, the Radio 4 arts show, and being underpaid in comparison with male colleagues on Radio 3’s Night Waves.