Members of the trades union BECTU working for BBC TV News in London have voted by more than 90% for strikes over new rotas. Out of almost 100 members in news production facilities, 67 returned voting papers, with 62 in favour of industrial action. Union representatives are due to meet on 6 November to decide what form the action will take, with an initial 12-hour stoppage likely to be announced, followed by further strikes of varying duration. Any industrial action has to be taken within four weeks of the ballot result being announced, and under UK labour laws, 7 days’ notice must be given of stoppages.
BECTU members in news production facilities provide much of the technical back-up needed to transmit programmes like News 24 and the BBC’s three daily flagship bulletins, and BECTU claims the industrial action is likely to have an effect on output. But BBC management say that they have standby arrangements in place that will mean very little disruption.
The dispute that led to the strike ballot centres on new rotas and scheduling practices that BBC News is planning to introduce in January 2007. Management say the changes are necessary to cover the full range of BBC TV News programmes with lower staffing levels. Staff will be expected to work more days each month, and accept rota changes at short notice.
