BBC News staff vote to strike BBC News programmes could be hit by industrial action later this month over plans to cut more than 400 posts, after union members voted to strike over the proposed cuts. The National Union of Journalists and broadcasting union Bectu said on Monday their BBC members had voted in favour of strike action after management declined to give undertakings that there would be no compulsory redundancies and a freeze on external redundancies. The unions argue that given the high level of interest in applying for voluntary redundancy – 470 volunteers, according to Bectu – which they put down to low morale within BBC News, the corporation should be able to avoid compulsory departures. James Harding, the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, announced in July that the corporation was seeking £48m in annual savings from the division, some as part of the ongoing Delivering Quality First cost-cutting initiative. A further 415 posts will be cut, but 195 new positions created, meaning a net reduction of 220 full-time posts. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “Morale is at a record low, with staff working in an atmosphere described by one journalist as one of ‘fear and loathing’. “Added to a process which is being mismanaged and where individuals are being treated appallingly, in a manner that is fundamentally inhumane, and the public will understand why NUJ members are saying enough is enough.” Luke Crawley, Bectu assistant general secretary, said: “Given that the BBC has over 470 volunteers for redundancy and 195 new posts to fill, it would be easy to give us the guarantees we are seeking. The fact that management refuses to do so raise fears amongst staff that the BBC is not committed to redeploying the maximum number of staff. “The BBC should realise that rather than making redundancy payments to people who want to continue working for the BBC, licence fee payers’ money should be saved by redeploying staff elsewhere in the corporation.” A BBC spokeswoman said: “BBC News has recently announced a savings programme of nearly £50m to address pressures from the licence fee settlement. “The process of implementation, as relates to both restructuring and redundancies, has only just begun. We are aiming to work with colleagues across the BBC and with their union representatives in carrying through this challenging programme. We are disappointed that the unions have chosen to ballot for industrial action when the consultation process has barely started.” The NUJ said 86.9% of its BBC members who took part in the ballot voted for industrial action short of strikes and 73.6% for action including strikes. Of the 36% of Bectu’s BBC members who took part, 68% voted for strike action and 84% for industrial action short of strikes.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 20:27:55 +0000
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