BBC walkout over local cuts
BBC workers went on strike for 24 hours this week as part of an ongoing dispute over the corporation’s plans to cut local radio shows.
Journalists from Midlands Today, Radio WM and online teams in Birmingham joined colleagues across England to walk out of studios on Wednesday.
The Post understands 800 local radio BBC staff across its stations have been at risk of losing their jobs since October, as the broadcaster restructures its local output.
The move has forced many to apply for other jobs within the BBC or to leave the corporation altogether.
About 5.7 million listeners tune in to BBC local radio stations, but proposals by the broadcaster will cull services and mean only 40 hours of guaranteed weekly programming. NUJ (National Union of Journalists) members at the BBC voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike.
The broadcaster is bringing in more shared programmes across its local radio channels.
Under new plans Radio WM’s
drive time show will be axed.
The station is currently paired with BBC CWR, based in Coventry, for a weekend daytime slot.
A BBC Birmingham worker, who asked not to be named, told the Post: “They’ve put hundreds of workers at risk of losing their jobs during a costof-living crisis, where they are now being expected to apply for other jobs, to be put into pools, to scramble for jobs where they can find them in order to keep their BBC careers.
“We have been put through so much mental stress and feel enough is enough. We are desperate to keep local services to serve listeners and viewers. We don’t take this strike lightly, as it’s so important these services are retained in the future for everyone because that’s what the licence fee payer expects.
“Part of this is a legacy issue where they have previously cut us by 20 percent three years ago. This has had an affect on all local services and made it much more difficult for us to do our jobs.”
Local NUJ representative Liz Gameson said: “These changes would see BBC Radio WM lose its stand-alone programme currently presented by Paul Franks between 2pm and 6pm. There would also be a reduction of stand-alone programmes across evenings and weekends.
“Other cities like Manchester and Liverpool are keeping their own drive time programmes, why isn’t Birmingham and the Black Country?
“This dispute is not about pay, but the service BBC Radio WM listeners receive in exchange for their licence fee, in a region which already gets a raw deal.”
Another staff member at BBC WM said the announcement of reduced resources for local broadcast programming and news and plans to axe Paul Franks’ drivetime show had been met with “complete dismay.” Resources would instead be diverted to the BBC’s web presence. “We believe this will reduce the service listeners and viewers in the West Midlands have come to expect, the truly local news and commentary that listeners love,” they said.
“The Paul Franks drivetime show is hugely popular and has high reach, with 90,000 regular listeners. That compares favourably to other parts of the country where similar programmes are being protected, it makes no sense.”
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “Staff are striking this week as a last resort – they are under no illusion that the BBC’s plans will undermine already hollowed out local radio content across England.
“It’s not simply a question about jobs and conditions for our members – they believe passionately in the value that quality local content brings to their audiences, journalism that is trusted and relied upon in the communities they serve.
“The BBC’s raiding of local radio budgets to fund its Digital First strategy is wrongheaded and risks undermining a vital part of our public service broadcasting. People want local relevant news that is accessible, and that should remain a core part of the breadth of BBC output.”
Other cities are keeping their drive time programmes, why isn’t Birmingham and the Black Country? Liz Gameson