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Unions issue BBC strike deadline Unions issue BBC strike deadline
(4 days later)
Broadcasting unions have given the BBC until 1200 BST to drop redundancy plans or they will ballot for strike action.Broadcasting unions have given the BBC until 1200 BST to drop redundancy plans or they will ballot for strike action.
Bectu, NUJ and Unite representatives said plans to close 2,500 posts and make up to 1,800 staff redundant would "undermine quality programming".Bectu, NUJ and Unite representatives said plans to close 2,500 posts and make up to 1,800 staff redundant would "undermine quality programming".
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said the BBC "must withdraw these plans, agree a framework for negotiations or face the potential of strike action".NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said the BBC "must withdraw these plans, agree a framework for negotiations or face the potential of strike action".
It followed the announcement of plans to reduce the size of the corporation.It followed the announcement of plans to reduce the size of the corporation.
Breakdown of BBC redundancies Breakdown of BBC redundancies
Mr Dear said the unions had written to the BBC and believed "the ball is very much in the BBC management's court".
Mr Thompson said the plans involved "difficult choices" Thompson's key points "Certainly no members of our union want to go on strike, but here they're not only concerned about their own jobs and their own workloads, they're actually concerned about the quality of BBC programming," he told BBC News 24.
"Therefore they actually believe they're acting in the interests of the audience and the licence-fee payers if they are forced to go on strike."
BBC TV audiences can expect more repeats and fewer original programmes under plans revealed on Thursday.BBC TV audiences can expect more repeats and fewer original programmes under plans revealed on Thursday.
Mr Thompson said the plans involved "difficult choices" class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/7050478.stm">Thompson's key points The majority of redundancies will come in news, programme-making and regional centres. The majority of redundancies will come in news, programme-making and regional centres.
The BBC will also sell off its flagship Television Centre in west London as it attempts to make up a £2bn budget shortfall.The BBC will also sell off its flagship Television Centre in west London as it attempts to make up a £2bn budget shortfall.
The corporation has plans in place to ask staff to volunteer for redundancy. The unions say they will ballot for industrial action if the BBC refuses to suspend the redundancy exercise. BBC director general Mark Thompson said his plan would deliver "a smaller, but fitter, BBC" in the digital age.
Budget cuts THE EDITORS' BLOG Our audiences are changing and we must change with them Helen Boaden,director of BBC News class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2007/10/reorganising_bbc_news_1.html">Boaden's comments in full The six-year scheme, called Delivering Creative Future, was prompted by a smaller than expected licence-fee settlement from the government.
On Thursday, BBC director general Mark Thompson said his plan would deliver "a smaller, but fitter, BBC" in the digital age. Every part of the BBC will be required to make efficiency savings. The main changes include:
THE EDITORS' BLOG Our audiences are changing and we must change with them Helen Boaden,director of BBC News Helen's comments in full The six-year scheme, called Delivering Creative Future, was prompted by a smaller than expected licence-fee settlement from the government.
Every part of the BBC will be required to make efficiency savings.
The main changes include:
  • Closing 2,500 job posts over the next six years
  • Closing 2,500 job posts over the next six years
  • Creating about 1,000 new jobs, many of which will be filled internally
  • Creating about 1,000 new jobs, many of which will be filled internally
  • Making 10% fewer original TV programmes by 2012/13, focusing on fewer, high-quality shows
  • Making 10% fewer original TV programmes by 2012/13, focusing on fewer, high-quality shows
  • Establishing an integrated newsroom - merging TV, radio, and online
  • Establishing an integrated newsroom - merging TV, radio, and online
  • Reducing the size of the BBC's property portfolio by selling BBC Television Centre by 2012/13
  • Reducing the size of the BBC's property portfolio by selling BBC Television Centre by 2012/13
  • Scrapping proposals for new activities, including plans for four new local radio stations
  • Scrapping proposals for new activities, including plans for four new local radio stations.
    Across TV as a whole, the BBC plans to commission 10% fewer hours, saving £100m every year. Across TV as a whole, the BBC plans to commission 10% fewer hours, saving £100m every year. Despite press speculation, digital channels BBC Three and BBC Four will remain.
    Despite press speculation, digital channels BBC Three and BBC Four will remain.
    HAVE YOUR SAY More repeats are fine so long as you show programmes people want to see again Paul Tapner, Poole, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY More repeats are fine so long as you show programmes people want to see again Paul Tapner, Poole, UK Send us your comments
    Up to 370 people will be made redundant in BBC News by 2012, but the process is expected to be pushed through "as fast as possible".Up to 370 people will be made redundant in BBC News by 2012, but the process is expected to be pushed through "as fast as possible".
    Mr Thompson told staff: "BBC News is, and will remain, the cornerstone of the whole organisation. The proportion of content spend that goes to News will go up not down over the coming years." Mr Thompson told staff: "BBC News is, and will remain, the cornerstone of the whole organisation. The proportion of content spend that goes to News will go up, not down, over the coming years."
    Plans for BBC journalism include an enhanced on-demand news, sport and local information for the digital age.Plans for BBC journalism include an enhanced on-demand news, sport and local information for the digital age.
    There are also plans to build content for younger audiences, including a multi-media Radio 1 Newsbeat.There are also plans to build content for younger audiences, including a multi-media Radio 1 Newsbeat.

    BBC NET REDUNDANCIES BY DEPARTMENT

      Responsible for Redundancies Vision Factual, children's and entertainment television 640 - 660 Nations and Regions Regional news and programmes 510 - 550 News News for TV, radio and new media 355 - 370 Future Media & Technology Online, mobile, interactive, archives 120 - 130 Audio and Music Music radio, audio on other platforms 65 - 75 Sport Sport on TV, radio and new media Up to 20 Professional Services Marketing, legal, finance etc Up to 75 Total net redundancies of about 1,800 expected

    BBC NET REDUNDANCIES BY DEPARTMENT

      Responsible for Redundancies Vision Factual, children's and entertainment television 640 - 660 Nations and Regions Regional news and programmes 510 - 550 News News for TV, radio and new media 355 - 370 Future Media & Technology Online, mobile, interactive, archives 120 - 130 Audio and Music Music radio, audio on other platforms 65 - 75 Sport Sport on TV, radio and new media Up to 20 Professional Services Marketing, legal, finance etc Up to 75 Total net redundancies of about 1,800 expected
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