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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| BBC strike: presenters join walkout | BBC strike: presenters join walkout |
| (7 months later) | |
| BBC 6 Music host Lauren Laverne and Newsnight's Paul Mason were among thousands of corporation staff to go on strike on Monday, forcing several flagship news programmes off the air and playing havoc with radio and TV schedules. | BBC 6 Music host Lauren Laverne and Newsnight's Paul Mason were among thousands of corporation staff to go on strike on Monday, forcing several flagship news programmes off the air and playing havoc with radio and TV schedules. |
| The BBC resheduled an appearance from former the Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who was due to appear on Laverne's show. The Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess, stepped in to present her 10am slot. | The BBC resheduled an appearance from former the Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who was due to appear on Laverne's show. The Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess, stepped in to present her 10am slot. |
| Mason, Newsnight's economics editor, joined about 15 BBC staff on the picket line outside the corporation's New Broadcasting House headquarters in central London. | Mason, Newsnight's economics editor, joined about 15 BBC staff on the picket line outside the corporation's New Broadcasting House headquarters in central London. |
| The 24-hour strike over job cuts caused noticeable disruption to the BBC's morning schedules, with presenters John Humphrys and Evan Davis replaced by pre-recorded shows on Radio 4 as Today went off the air. | The 24-hour strike over job cuts caused noticeable disruption to the BBC's morning schedules, with presenters John Humphrys and Evan Davis replaced by pre-recorded shows on Radio 4 as Today went off the air. |
| Michelle Stanistreet, the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said the strike sent a "really significant" message to BBC managers about union members' opposition to planned compulsory redundancies. | Michelle Stanistreet, the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said the strike sent a "really significant" message to BBC managers about union members' opposition to planned compulsory redundancies. |
| "From members that I've spoken to the panic from managers in the last few days has been palpable in the newsrooms as they've tried to prepare for today," Stanistreet told MediaGuardian. | "From members that I've spoken to the panic from managers in the last few days has been palpable in the newsrooms as they've tried to prepare for today," Stanistreet told MediaGuardian. |
| Speaking outside New Broadcasting House, Stanistreet said the huge payoffs to BBC executives in the past year had angered rank-and-file journalists who had borne the brunt of cost-saving measures. She cited the £670,000 recouped by former chief operation officer Caroline Thomson when she left the BBC shortly after losing out on the director general's job to George Entwistle, who quit at the height of the Jimmy Savile scandal. | Speaking outside New Broadcasting House, Stanistreet said the huge payoffs to BBC executives in the past year had angered rank-and-file journalists who had borne the brunt of cost-saving measures. She cited the £670,000 recouped by former chief operation officer Caroline Thomson when she left the BBC shortly after losing out on the director general's job to George Entwistle, who quit at the height of the Jimmy Savile scandal. |
| "It's absolutely hardened opinion and the frustration and anger among NUJ members at the BBC has really been building in recent months," she said. | "It's absolutely hardened opinion and the frustration and anger among NUJ members at the BBC has really been building in recent months," she said. |
| "Not only has the impact of the cuts been felt now – we're seeing the effect on quality journalist and programming – but they're having to sit by and hear revelation after revelation at the reality of executive pay, the payoffs that have been given to people like [former chief operating officer] Caroline Thomson. All the time they're supposed to accept that journalism at the BBC is being compromised as a result of the cuts – they've simply had enough." | "Not only has the impact of the cuts been felt now – we're seeing the effect on quality journalist and programming – but they're having to sit by and hear revelation after revelation at the reality of executive pay, the payoffs that have been given to people like [former chief operating officer] Caroline Thomson. All the time they're supposed to accept that journalism at the BBC is being compromised as a result of the cuts – they've simply had enough." |
| The NUJ said it has 4,000 members at the BBC and that there were picket lines from Southampton to Shetland. The Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV, sent reporters to cover the strike the BBC's New Broadcasting House. | The NUJ said it has 4,000 members at the BBC and that there were picket lines from Southampton to Shetland. The Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV, sent reporters to cover the strike the BBC's New Broadcasting House. |
| Tory Blair, an NUJ representative at the BBC, said she had been outside the corporation's new London headquarters since 5.30am and that turnout had been strong. "A lot of people have stayed away. There was a big walkout last night and there was no Today programme this morning." | Tory Blair, an NUJ representative at the BBC, said she had been outside the corporation's new London headquarters since 5.30am and that turnout had been strong. "A lot of people have stayed away. There was a big walkout last night and there was no Today programme this morning." |
| Another striker, David Gallagher, complained about the pay of BBC executives enforcing the cutbacks. "There are too many senior managers, they are too highly paid, and there are too many people who have lost a real sense of public service. I hope [new director general] Tony Hall will restore some of that when he comes in," he said. | Another striker, David Gallagher, complained about the pay of BBC executives enforcing the cutbacks. "There are too many senior managers, they are too highly paid, and there are too many people who have lost a real sense of public service. I hope [new director general] Tony Hall will restore some of that when he comes in," he said. |
| Meanwhile, one of the main causes of the strike, BBC Scotland, has been warned by politicians that some of its cuts could potentially put it in breach of the BBC's Royal Charter. | Meanwhile, one of the main causes of the strike, BBC Scotland, has been warned by politicians that some of its cuts could potentially put it in breach of the BBC's Royal Charter. |
| In a letter to BBC Scotland chief Ken MacQuarrie, the Scottish Parliament's cross-party education and culture committee has questioned plans to merge the education and local government reporter roles. | In a letter to BBC Scotland chief Ken MacQuarrie, the Scottish Parliament's cross-party education and culture committee has questioned plans to merge the education and local government reporter roles. |
| The committee said it had concerns about the move, adding: "The committee has noted the terms of sections 4 (a) and (b) of the royal charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation under which the public purposes of the BBC include "sustaining citizenship and civil society" and "promoting education and learning". | The committee said it had concerns about the move, adding: "The committee has noted the terms of sections 4 (a) and (b) of the royal charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation under which the public purposes of the BBC include "sustaining citizenship and civil society" and "promoting education and learning". |
| It went on: "It would be helpful if you could confirm how under a single post-holder you envisage these purposes can be maintained. As an aside, the committee notes that, in the week of the committee meeting, the local government reporter covered stories ranging from business to energy and adverse weather conditions." | It went on: "It would be helpful if you could confirm how under a single post-holder you envisage these purposes can be maintained. As an aside, the committee notes that, in the week of the committee meeting, the local government reporter covered stories ranging from business to energy and adverse weather conditions." |
| The committee has asked MacQuarrie to respond by 22 February. | The committee has asked MacQuarrie to respond by 22 February. |
| In addition, some members of the National Union of Journalists have reacted angrily to an email sent to staff at the end of last week by acting director general Tim Davie reminding them of "BBC policies around industrial action" and saying big strides have been made, "ensuring those facing redundancy get a chance to apply first for nearly all new vacancies". | In addition, some members of the National Union of Journalists have reacted angrily to an email sent to staff at the end of last week by acting director general Tim Davie reminding them of "BBC policies around industrial action" and saying big strides have been made, "ensuring those facing redundancy get a chance to apply first for nearly all new vacancies". |
| One NUJ member sent Davie a reply, which has been circulated internally and seen by the Guardian, which claimed: "We never get the chance to apply before anyone else; that would be a good starting point if it were possible. Instead, we have our CVs loaded in a priority pool which HR are supposed to check before advertising – but it simply doesn't happen! | One NUJ member sent Davie a reply, which has been circulated internally and seen by the Guardian, which claimed: "We never get the chance to apply before anyone else; that would be a good starting point if it were possible. Instead, we have our CVs loaded in a priority pool which HR are supposed to check before advertising – but it simply doesn't happen! |
| "I have highlighted to HR a number of occasions where my CV was not pulled from the priority pool for jobs where I was at least a partial – if not a full match. I would be happy to go through this evidence with you and Lucy Adams if you want; you might then see why it is so hurtful and difficult to be in our position." | "I have highlighted to HR a number of occasions where my CV was not pulled from the priority pool for jobs where I was at least a partial – if not a full match. I would be happy to go through this evidence with you and Lucy Adams if you want; you might then see why it is so hurtful and difficult to be in our position." |
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