Local BBC services hit as journalists strike
A 24-hour strike by journalists at BBC stations in Coventry and Birmingham disrupted news services in the region today (15 March).
BBC Midlands Today didn't air its usual lunchtime or early evening bulletins due to the strikes.
The bulletins were replaced with Planet Earth Live at 1.30pm and Garden Rescue at 6.30pm.
Nine staff at BBC CWR were among around 1,000 local radio journalists who walked out of their offices at 11am.
The strike by union members is part of a dispute with the BBC over cuts to local radio services.
BBC stations in different areas will be forced to share afternoon programmes under the plans and weekend programmes will be hit.
For BBC CWR its output after 2pm will be shared with Shropshire and Hereford and Worcestershire – stations 60 miles away.
The move has also put local radio jobs at risk of redundancy.
Vanessa Pearce, Mother of the Chapel for BBC West Midlands Online said: "The proposed cuts to such a highly-valued service would have a huge impact on local news in Coventry.
"BBC management has said by cutting radio output it could then invest more into Online, but digital growth should not be at the expense of a quality local radio service for the city.
"Almost all local radio staff and presenters have been at risk of redundancy since January, which is no way to treat a valued workforce.
"Listeners deserve quality services, with relevant local news that they can trust."
Coventry City Council leaders spoke out against the cuts when they were announced earlier this year.
In a joint letter, council leader Cllr George Duggins and opposition leader Cllr Gary Ridley said: "We feel for those journalists and support staff who face losing their jobs, and we also feel for the future of our city, and we urge you to reconsider these cuts which take us to the brink of the end of local radio and local journalism.
"We have seen our newspapers gradually disappear over recent years and the city is poorer for it. Do not let such a respected and trusted radio station suffer the same fate."
More than 1,000 BBC journalists are estimated to have taken part in the strike action today.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: "It's not simply a question about jobs and conditions for our members – they believe passionately in the value that quality local content brings to their audiences, journalism that is trusted and relied upon in the communities they serve.
"The BBC's raiding of local radio budgets to fund its Digital First strategy is wrongheaded and risks undermining a vital part of our public service broadcasting."
A BBC spokesperson said: "We're sorry that audiences will experience some changes to local tv and radio services in England as a result of industrial action by the National Union of Journalists.
"We have tried to minimise disruption as much as possible.
"We are obviously disappointed that the strike has gone ahead. We have a plan to modernise local services across England – including more news journalists and a stronger local online service – which will see no overall reduction in staffing levels or local funding.
"Our goal is a local service across tv, radio and online that delivers even greater value to communities.
"We will continue to engage with the trade union and do everything possible to minimise the impact on staff."
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