I've been on same rate for over 8 years. Asked for a raise. They said ...

[Spidermama]

... 'No.'

This is the BBC. The wages were shit 8 years ago and they're insulting now.

I'm so angry, humiliated, hurt. I really want to move on and find some other work but this is all I've ever done.

I'm a radio journalist btw. Before kids I was a presenter. Now I mainly gather, write and read the news and do the odd production shift.

I just want to cut all ties and move on but I'm scared. This is all I know. It's all I've done for the past 20 odd years.

Can you not go to a competitor (are there any?) or at least interview with one to give you some bargaining power?

Could your skills be used in a similar area e.g. documentary making? corporate video making?

I sympathise. I've worked (jolly hard!) for the BBC, and found they don't match the going rate at all.

Competitors pay even less and also they are subject to terrifying. swinging staff cuts at the moment. I've always worked for the BBC and would rather stick with what I know.

I may have to try to diversify into podcast making or something similar but it's a completely different field and with four young children and a big mortgage, as well as an actor husband, I feel the odds are stacked against me.

BlackeyedDog the BBC used to be such a great employer. If I'd known when I chucked away my staff job to have kids, what I know now ....

What a drag. Think you probably are long overdue a raise, but imo, your timing is all wrong in making the request in this economic climate.

Let things stabilise/improve and go back later with the request.

Also ime, media companies often 'exploit' the fact that so many people 'want' to work for them - jobs are perceived as glitzy, glam, desirable - and thus companies don't 'have' to pay so well. I was reminded in a subtle way of all the people queuing up to do my job.....

Do you quote for each job and then invoice them? you could TRY just upping your price in your next quote and then invoiceing them the new rate.
Its worked for me with an arts centre I work for and other customers. I've no idea what other freelancers are on for them , but I know how much I charge to do the work I do, and its gone up each year or two. So far I havn't lost any projects becasue of it. I suspect they would rather I did it again over finding someone else and the hassle of a new person working out how to do that project.

That's shit Spidermama, sorry you are being treated so badly.

I don't work for the BBC but I get this same attitude in my industry, which is similarly "glamorous" in that lots of people want to do it and you get that "plenty of people would do it for less" schtick.

But the wouldn't do it as well for less and your employers actually know that. I bet they don't want to lose you. One thing that has worked well in the past for me is calculating what I should be paid if my rate had followed inflation. Start with what you were on 8 years ago, get inflation figures for each year (a quick google) and add them onto your rate, compound interest each year, until you reach what it should be today. Then go to them and say this is what you would like to be paid so as not to actually be receiving a pay cut. Of course, you would like more in recognition of your extra experience and ability, but you understand that money is tight so for the time being you are actually just asking for the same level of pay as eight years ago. If they say no, ask in all innocence what you have done to deserve a pay cut and how you can improve matters.

Do not threaten to leave, but do look into alternatives because it does make you feel better to be on the lookout. Could you do freelance journalism for broadsheets or magazines for example? I have one main client who pays shite and others who I do less work for, but who pay better. I have used the better rates as a bargaining chip with my main client - "of course I would like to do more hours for you but I can't really afford to, I need to keep my average rate up" seems to be quite effective.

Put in an FOI request to find out what people in similar BBC roles are being paid, and how regularly others have been getting pay rises, perhaps???

You would not be the first ....

It does strike me btw that with your 4 kids and actor husband I bet you could write a highly paid humorous magazine column for a parenting or women's magazine.

(You are often very funny you know...)