London Resources strike in BBC

The Television Centre picket line

Hundreds of BECTU members in BBC London Resources have responded to the call for 24-hour stoppage.

The members are involved in a dispute over cuts in jobs and pay which affects BBC London Studios, Post-Production and Graphics, and Radio and TV Outside Broadcasts.

Union representatives report that members in all areas of London Operations have refused to report for work today, and programme-making activity has been significantly reduced.

Some programmes are still expected to be transmitted - Live and Kicking and the National Lottery have been pre-recorded (with the exception of the Lottery draw), and BBC staff have been replaced on sports events by independent facilities companies.

Pickets at the Kendal Avenue OB base

Managers were forced to shift some work, notably editing on Match of the Day, to BBC regional centres which are not involved in the dispute. Late on the evening before the stoppage the BBC was still trying to hire freelancers to fill in for striking staff, but met more difficulty than usual because all freelance members of BECTU had been warned in advance about the stoppage.

The action runs until midnight today, Saturday December 2, and will be followed by a one week work-to-rule by union members in London Operations.

Other members in the BBC are not affected by the strike, and have been advised to work normally, carrying out only their own jobs. However BECTU has pledged to defend any members who choose to observe the picket lines at Television Centre and the Kendal Avenue OB base.