BBC staff strike over ‘bullying and overwork’

• NUJ and Bectu members walked out at noon today, with the strike lasting until midnight

• Programmes are expected to be disrupted as a result of the action

• Officials have warned of further strikes if the dispute is not resolved

Radio and TV programmes were disrupted across the UK, with 300 staff walking out of BBC Scotland’s headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow at noon. Hundreds also stopped working of New Broadcasting House in London, and there were walkouts and picket lines at other BBC offices, including in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Unions say overwork and bullying are rife at the corporation. They claim more than 7,000 jobs have been lost since 2004 and that staff have been hard-pressed to cover the resulting increase in their workload.

A further 2,000 jobs are expected to be lost as a result of more restructuring and budget cuts. Unions say programme quality will suffer as a result.

Paul McManus, Scottish organiser for broadcasting union Bectu, said: “Across Scotland, there are hundreds of staff on strike. Feelings are very strong among staff and there was a great feeling of solidarity as people walked out.

“Too may people are being put under extreme pressure. I think there is public support. People have a sense that too much is being asked of people.”

In a statement, the BBC said: “We are extremely disappointed that the unions have gone ahead with today’s strike and apologise to our audiences for the disruption to services.

“We have had constructive meetings with the unions in recent weeks and, whilst we’re unable to postpone planned compulsory redundancies for six months as they requested, we do agree that stress and workload are areas of real concern.

“If workloads are going up because of the pressures of working in a 24/7 digital media environment and implementing savings, it’s in everyone’s interest to understand the issues and work with individuals, their managers and the unions to address it.”

Bectu general secretary Gerry Morrissey and his National Union of Journalists’ counterpart, Michelle Stanistreet, were at New Broadcasting House to support the strikers.

Ms Stanistreet said: “Members are taking strike action today in a clear message to the BBC that it needs to listen to its staff and address properly the problems created by its ill-conceived and badly implemented cuts programme.

“It is disappointing that, once again, the BBC has decided not to properly engage with us, refusing our call for a moratorium to give space for meaningful discussions on the worrying impact of the cuts. The DQF [Delivering Quality First] plans remain on the table, regardless of the consequence for workload and stress levels.

“We need Tony Hall to come in as director general with a big broom to sweep away management complacency and set new priorities. The BBC management is in turmoil. The new DG needs to have a new start – to put the disastrous decisions made by Mark Thompson and the lack of leadership of George Entwistle behind him.”

She added: “We know the cuts are already having an impact on the quality of work. We know that it is leading to unacceptable workloads and stress. We know that management is using DQF as a means to harass and bully staff – making worse an already entrenched problem of bullying that has been largely ignored by those in positions of power.”