BBC industrial action to be extended across the corporation - The Guardian

Industrial action, including possible strikes, is to be extended from BBC Scotland across the corporation nationally as the National Union of Journalists steps up its opposition to compulsory redundancies.

BBC NUJ members in Scotland have been on a work to rule since Friday over nine proposed compulsory redundancies.

Now a meeting of NUJ mothers and fathers of chapel has agreed to extend the work to rule across the BBC and to take strike action unless management redeploys staff threatened with compulsory redundancy under the corporation's Delivering Quality First cost savings programme.

The NUJ said the action was also in response to proposed compulsory redundancies at BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, Radio 5 Live, staff work on Big Screens, Asian Network and the World Service.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "Our members are being forced to escalate action against these compulsory redundancies because of the lack of movement from management to properly use the redeployment system – this lack of engagement is particularly entrenched in BBC Scotland where nine members face losing their job at the end of March.

"If the BBC wants to resolve this dispute, they need to engage meaningfully with the NUJ and find opportunities for these talented experienced journalists at risk – rather than waste public money on needless compulsory redundancies."

Paul Holleran, NUJ Scottish organiser, said: "A major concern among members in Scotland is the loss of specialist reporters and correspondents. This will result in a serious dumbing down of output. In the lead up to the independence referendum we need experts in education, business and politics – three areas where cuts are being made.

Holleran also warned that the BBC Scotland cuts could affect the quality of the BBC's Glasgow Commonwealth Games coverage in 2014.

A BBC Spokesperson said: "We're continuing to work closely with our staff and the unions to seek redeployment wherever possible and those talks are ongoing."

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