BBC Journalists To Strike Over Redundancies

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has announced its BBC members will strike on 18 February in protest over the corporation’s compulsory redundancies scheme.

The job losses are part of the BBC's Delivering Quality First programme, which plans to cut more than 2,000 jobs over a period of five years.

From Friday 15, journalists will start a work-to-rule as part of the dispute.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "After months of negotiations with BBC Scotland management, NUJ reps fighting to secure the jobs of nine of their colleagues discovered that six jobs were being externally advertised, offering six-month contracts to journalists who do not work for the corporation. The BBC is prepared to waste public money on needless redundancies rather than secure redeployment opportunities for those at risk. This demonstrates the significant failures of some managers to uphold key aspects of the redeployment agreement, let alone the spirit of the deal.

"In the meantime we have meetings planned with the BBC and we want to engage in meaningful negotiations to resolve this dispute - I hope common sense prevails and a sensible solution is agreed which will mean that strike action is not necessary."

In a letter sent to all BBC members, Ms Stanistreet said: "As you know, your NUJ reps took a decision at their recent meeting to take industrial action. This follows the overwhelming vote by members to oppose compulsory redundancies by taking strike action if necessary.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We understand how frustrating and difficult situations involving redundancies can be, but it is disappointing the NUJ have chosen to take this action.

"We are working hard to ensure that we succeed in getting staff redeployed wherever we can and will continue to work with the unions to ensure that their members receive the right redeployment support."

(IT)