[Media-watch] FW: BBC

[David Miller]

________________________________

From: Tim Gopsill [mailto:TimG at nuj.org.uk] 
Sent: 07 December 2004 13:18
To: David Miller
Subject: RE: BBC

 

Attention news media and business editors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 7 2004

 

NUJ MEMBERS WILL RESIST BBC JOB LOSSES

The NUJ has confirmed that its members at the BBC will take action if
necessary to save their jobs and the corporation's news, current affairs
and factual output.

The union was pleased to hear Director-General Mark Thompson declare
that some areas of news and current affairs output will be increased,
but it is gravely concerned that jobs will be bartered in the process.

"It looks as if he is giving with one hand and taking away with the
other," said General Secretary Jeremy Dear. "Even where he says there
will be expansion there will have to be savings to pay for it, and
savings means job cuts.

"You cannot save 15 per cent of the cost of any department without
sacking people. And we are especially worried that he has not said will
be no compulsory redundancies."

The full details of Mark Thompson's programme are still to be announced
but the NUJ has reaffirmed that the BBC must maintain its news, current
affairs and factual output.

Jeremy Dear said: "Some of the top brass in the BBC seem to think they
have got to strip away or sell off whole areas of staffing and
production to keep the government happy and hold on to their public
service status and licence fee. But if they do that, it won't be a
proper public service any more.

To meet the diverse demands of the digital age the BBC needs to maintain
or expand its range, not restrict it."

A month ago a meeting of NUJ reps from 40 BBC offices today voted
unanimously that the union will "resist any cuts in local, regional or
national news and current affairs and any plans for redundancies by all
means at the union's disposal, including a ballot for strike action."

Jeremy Dear said: "It's clear that there are going to be massive savings
and as far as news and current affairs are concerned there is no more
fat to trim.

"We have already had redundancies this year in the regions and members
will not take any more."

 

Contact

JEREMY DEAR 07855 384 287

PAUL McLAUGHLIN, National Organiser for Broadcasting 07803 050 865

TIM GOPSILL 0207 843 3701

	 

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