BBC employees in Cairo have concluded a three-day strike over pay disparities with colleagues in other Middle Eastern bureaus. While the strike has ended, staff warn of potential future action if their demands for equitable compensation are not addressed. The striking employees, represented by Khaled el-Balshy, head of Egypt's journalism union, are seeking salaries paid in U.S. dollars or a substantial raise in the local currency to match the compensation of their counterparts in locations like Beirut and Istanbul. They argue that the current pay gap constitutes "clear discrimination," particularly given Egypt's challenging economic climate with significant inflation and currency devaluation. The BBC's London headquarters stated that a 27% salary increase was implemented between March and July to offset inflation, and they are continuing discussions with the Cairo staff to find a resolution within their market pay policy. However, the striking workers contend that this increase is insufficient considering Egypt's economic realities. El-Balshy highlighted that BBC staff in Beirut receive dollar-denominated salaries, and employees in Turkey secured a significant pay raise following a 2022 strike. He emphasized the need for further action, including contacting various parties and raising their concerns, though he didn't specify the nature of this future action or whether it would involve another strike.
