Sheffield Trade Union Council says: “We need to stop this threat to jobs and cuts to BBC Radio Sheffield which is a major source of local news”
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Sheffield NUJ Picket Lines 5am-12noon on Wednesday and Thursday 7th and 8th June BBC Radio Sheffield, 54 Shoreham Street, Sheffield, S1 4RS
“Sheffield TUC supports local NUJ members on strike today and tomorrow at BBC Radio Sheffield” said Martin Mayer, Secretary Sheffield TUC. “With the demise of local printed journals, we depend on BBC Radio Sheffield more than ever for its news content and coverage of local events. It is simply not right that BBC bosses are raiding funds for local radio to expand their online news coverage. It should never be a choice between good local radio and online news”.
The National Union of Journalists says:
BBC journalists in England have rejected the BBC’s revised plans on cuts to local radio and have voted for a 48-hour strike on Wednesday 7 June and Thursday 8 June.
The work to rule has also been re-established. The strike will coincide with a lobby on Parliament on Wednesday 7 June. BBC members will update MPs on the NUJ campaign to keep BBC Local Radio Local and to ask them to maintain the political pressure on the BBC over proposed changes that are universally unpopular among politicians of all parties.
The work to rule, which includes journalists refusing to act-up to more senior roles, has shown just how much the BBC relies on the goodwill of staff to keep programmes on air. Twice last week Look North’s evening news programme from Newcastle was unable to go ahead because NUJ members refused to act up and present the programme.
While some concessions were made in talks brokered by the arbitrator ACAS, NUJ reps said they did not go far enough to provide a proper service for the 5.7m loyal local radio listeners. The vote to carry on the dispute was overwhelming with members making clear that less sharing at weekends and during the week is needed for the dispute to be settled. The journalists on strike will be members on local radio, regional TV and online in England.