Strikes announced in BBC News

Dates have been released for industrial action by BECTU members working for BBC Television News.

Following an overwhelming vote in favour of strike action in a dispute over scheduling changes, more than 90 union members will walk out three times this month.

The first action, a 24-hour stoppage, will start at 2200 on Tuesday November 14, and further strikes will follow on November 23 and 24. Precise timings for the later strikes will be announced closer to the actual dates.

Members affected by the changes voted by 95% in favour of action, in show of anger against well-established rota patterns being scrapped, and local agreements being revoked by management in news production facilities, a department that provides engineering and IT staff to BBC News.

BECTU Supervisory official Luke Crawley said: "We expect the strike action to be well supported and the fact that our members will not be at work will cause the BBC major problems in covering the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 15th."

BBC buildings to be hit by the action include Television Centre and the BBC's political unit Millbank in Westminster. Problems are expected live programmes like Breakfast news, News 24 and the 1 O'Clock, 6 O'Clock and 10 O'Clock News.

For more information, contact Luke Crawley on 07736 058720 or BECTU's head office on 020 7346 0900.