Bectu members rally to protect Birmingham jobs

Rob Johnston speaking at today's Bectu rally in Birmingham

Members of Bectu today held a rally at the end of their 24 hour strike to call for the retention of jobs in the second city. members at the rally heard how jobs were being transferred without consultation, leading to over 40% of Bectu members likely to lose their jobs. Midlands TUC Regional Secretary, Rob Johnston, said, "We don't need to have highly skilled jobs exported form the region - particularly not at a time when unemployment is rising and other skilled industries are also feeling the strain of an economy heading for recession".

With many jobs likely to be lost, speakers called for more to be done to save current and future jobs. "We like the programmes we have, including "Doctors" and "The Archers", but if so many jobs are lost to the city, how much longer will these programmes be viable?"

BBC Factual departments in Birmingham and Bristol face large-scale job cuts

Media and entertainment union, BECTU, has today charged BBC Vision with failing to manage its programme-making operation wisely as plans are announced to cut staff in Birmingham and Bristol. Birmingham Factual faces a dramatic cut in staff as 26 out of a total staff of 50 are put at risk. The plans affect producer/directors, assistant producers and researchers.

Meanwhile in Bristol, staff in the Factual department and in the Natural History Unit are learning today of plans to cut their numbers by 21 out of a total of 68 across the two teams. The grades affected include series producers and producers.
All of the affected staff are part of the BBC’s production arm, BBC Vision.
Commenting on today’s announcements, Anna Murray, national official said:
“BECTU is devastated to learn that such large numbers of talented staff are at risk of redundancy in Bristol and Birmingham.
“Today’s announcements contradict Mark Thompson’s statements only last month on Delivering Quality First. The union will challenge the fact that these announcements come before the promised BBC-wide consultations with staff. These staff in factual are the very people who can help the BBC to meet its objectives.
“These production teams reflect huge versatility and make everything from high-end specialist wildlife programmes to daytime output. Their work reaches right across the BBC audience and more so than other BBC content.
“We believe that those at the top of the BBC have failed to manage the programme-making operation wisely and that staff in Birmingham and Bristol have been denied the opportunity to make a fair share of output. Those who control the channels and commission programmes have been allowed to by-pass in-house expertise; the result is that the development of sites like Birmingham and Bristol has been stifled.”
BECTU representatives will test BBC management on their proposals as the consultations get underway and will do everything possible to retain employment for the maximum number of staff.
For more information contact Sharon Elliott, communications officer (selliott@bectu.org.uk) or Anna Murray, national official on 020 7346 0900.