UK: BBC journalists set to commence 48-hour strike

More than one thousand journalists and media professionals will participate in a 48-hour strike action on 7 and 8 June to protest over BBC plans to dramatically reduce local radio services across England. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) fully supports the industrial action and joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the UK and Ireland, in calling on the BBC management to engage with the NUJ to reach a solution in the dispute over cuts to local radio.

Credit: NUJ.

Strikes on 7 and 8 June will follow industrial action taken by journalists in March and stalled negotiations with the BBC management, whose proposals have failed to address the NUJ’s concerns about the impact of fewer services, and an increase in shared programmes. The union has been engaged in discussions with the BBC, urging it to rethink the damaging impact cuts will have on local radio.   

Last week, BBC journalists passed a vote of no confidence in the BBC Local senior leadership team. Ninety-three per cent of those surveyed indicated they no longer had trust in the team amid the ongoing dispute.

The NUJ is holding a lobby of parliament on 7 June, with MPs also meeting journalists from across England in the House of Commons.  

Paul Siegert, national broadcasting organiser, said: “48 hours of weekly local radio programming is a disservice to the 5.7m weekly listeners who tune into BBC local radio. Journalists are striking in defence of services that are valued by communities across the country. We do not oppose change within the BBC, but believe the manner in which the Digital First strategy is being enforced will destroy access to relevant, local radio that so many rely on. This 48-hour strike is about journalists standing up for local radio services, and the public has rallied behind members in their fight to keep local radio local.” 

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger expressed his full solidarity with BBC journalists taking strike action to defend local news. “The IFJ endorses the NUJ’s position in opposing the management’s proposals to reduce local radio programming, which will gravely harm public service broadcasting, and call on the BBC leadership to rethink their position. The fight to protect local journalism is not only about saving jobs but also a fight to protect democracy and the public’s right to know”. 

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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