Carrie Grace, BBC China Editor, Resigns Over Pay Disparities

Carrie Grace, the China editor for BBC has resigned from her post due to pay disparities. She wrote an open letter about the pay disparities between her and her male colleagues. She said that there was a crisis of trust at the company where she has worked for 30 years.

The company is“breaking equality law and resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure”. The BBC had four international editors, two men and two women, of which she was one, she said.

She said that the male editors made at least 50 percent more money than the women in these roles

Grace had been offered a pay increase that remained in her words “far short of equality”. She has left her job in Beijing and returned to her former job in the BBC TV newsroom.

“The BBC must admit the problem, apologise and set in place an equal, fair and transparent pay structure,” she said. She also wanted an independent arbitration to settle individual cases

People are coming out in her support:

There's lot of #bbcwomen speaking up in support of #carriegracie. It would be more effective if they walked out in support of her. Show the world the power of collective bargaining and strike action, instead of making barbed comments at a untelevised panel discussion. https://t.co/j52evmeYed

— James McAnespy (@jamesimcanespy) January 8, 2018

I said on our programme last week, there are a number of awkward conversations ongoing between colleagues, and justifiable anger. Fair pay for same work. I would want it for my daughter. #IstandWithCarrie

— Christian Fraser (@ChristianFraser) January 7, 2018

There is nothing more clear cut than Carrie’s request. Equal pay for equal work. #IstandWithCarrie #Equality

— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) January 7, 2018

My talented and principled colleague @BBCCarrie has stepped down as BBC China Editor over unequal pay.

Here's her letter to you - the BBC audience - on why she's quit her brief https://t.co/uzuq7w9gud #bbcwomen #equalpay #IStandWithCarrie

— Anna Foster (@annaefoster) January 7, 2018

The job demanded sacrifices, says Carrie:

I knew the job would demand sacrifices and resilience. I would have to work 5000 miles from my teenage children, and in a heavily censored one-party state, I would face surveillance, police harassment and official intimidation.

I accepted the challenges while stressing to my bosses that I must be paid equally with my male peers. Like many other BBC women, I had long suspected that I was routinely paid less, and at this point in my career, I was determined not to let it happen again. Believing that I had secured pay parity with men in equivalent roles, I set off for Beijing.

She said that she is thankful that BBC was forced to make its pay structure publicly available because she would not know that she was being paid less.

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