Tribunal Refuses Female BBC Journalists Equal Pay Claim As Date Set For Discrimination Complaint Hearing

(Left to right) Annita McVeigh, Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone and Kasia Madera arriving at the London Central Employment Tribunal in Kingsway, central London, where newsreader Martine Croxall is bringing an employment tribunal against the BBC. Picture date: Wednesday May 1, 2024. 76035548 (Press Association via AP Images)

The London Central Employment Tribunal ruled that four female BBC journalists will not be allowed to include equal pay claims in their legal action against their employer.

Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh, all between 48 and 55, accuse the broadcaster of age and sex discrimination in pay and in a “sham recruitment exercise” that happened when the BBC News and World News channels merged.

In a two day preliminary hearing in London, the group said they were bypassed for chief presenter roles due to a pre-rigged selection process favouring other candidates. The claimants also argued they’ve faced pay inequities compared to male colleagues, with an annual pensionable salary gap around £36,000 as of February 2023.

Despite existing settlements blocking their equal pay claims, Judge Sarah Goodman said that the broader allegations of discriminatory practices will be examined in a three-week tribunal set for March 2025.

In response a BBC spokesperson said: “We are pleased with the result and that the tribunal has accepted our position. We will not be commenting further at this stage.”