BBC cuts 'impact on licence payer'

Feb 18 2013

BBC journalists taking part in a 24-hour walkout in Scotland have said the action is not just over job losses but also about the "impact" on the licence payer.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the industrial action was being strongly supported by its members, who mounted picket lines outside BBC offices and studios across the UK.

James Cook, Scotland correspondent for BBC News and an NUJ member, said more than 100 people were involved in a picket in Glasgow.

Cuts are already affecting programming and job losses are being pushed through too quickly, he said.

"It is intellectually incoherent to argue that you can make cuts this deep while continuing to increase the number of programmes and keep up the quality," he said.

"The strength of numbers here at Pacific Quay in Glasgow underlines the feeling among staff.

"It`s not just about cuts to colleagues' jobs, people being forced, it's also about the impact on the licence payer."

BBC radio and TV news programmes have been badly affected by the walkout, with the flagship Radio 4 Today programme replaced with pre-recorded features. National and regional TV news bulletins were also hit.

The BBC said it was "disappointed" with the industrial action, adding that it would not alter the fact that it has to make "significant" savings.

A spokesman said: "We understand how frustrating and difficult situations involving redundancies can be, but it is disappointing the NUJ have chosen to take this action."