Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> Staff to strike over job cuts http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1115975746 Message started by Forum Admin on May 13^th, 2005, 9:16am

Title: Staff to strike over job cuts
Post by Forum Admin on May 13^th, 2005, 9:16am

The broadcasting unions have voted by large majorities to strike over the plan to cut thousands of jobs at the BBC.

There will be one day strikes on May 23, May 31 and June 1.

This was the way the unions voted:

Result from BECTU
BBC staff members
Votes cast 2457 49.4%
YES 1907 77.6%
NO 549 22.3%
BBC Broadcast
Votes cast 199 54.5%
YES 175 87.9%
NO 24 12.0%
BBC Resources
Votes cast 413 56.1%
YES 357 86.4%
NO 56 13.5%

Result from NUJ
Votes cast 2159 64.2%
YES 1810 83.9%
NO 348 16.1%

BECTU's lead BBC official, Luke Crawley, said: "This is a clear signal to Mark Thompson that he is going too far, too fast, in his plans for changes. We've got an overwhelming mandate for strike action, proving that the Director General is badly out of touch with his staff."

This was the BBC's statement on the strike plan:

"We regret that the unions have decided to take industrial action.

"By threatening the BBC's output, the unions put at risk the BBC's relationship with the public which is not in anyone's interest.

"Industrial action will not remove the need for further consultation or the need for the BBC to implement changes which will enable us to put more money into improved programmes and services.

"We will, of course, do everything we can to bring the best possible service to viewers and listeners during any industrial action."