Strike by Journalists Disrupts BBC’s Programmes

A strike by journalists working for the BBC has disrupted programming across the corporation’s television and radio output.

Radio 4’s Today show was dropped. The show usually hosted by John Humphrys.

The National Union of Journalists called for the strike after failing to reach an agreement with the Beeb over compulsory redundancies within the news department. It is not the first time the NUJ has called a strike at the BBC and programmes have been disrupted.

BBC Radio 4’s the Today show did not air this morning because of the strike. Instead the station aired repeats of various programmes. Other Radio 4 programmes such as The World At One are not expected to air today.

On BBC One the Breakfast programme did air but from London instead of its new home of Salford.

It was a small breakfast from the Beeb today.

The programme was also presented by a stand-in presenter instead of the regular team. However, while Breakfast did air it was in instalments and not the full length programme as usual; repeats of Bargain Hunt and Escape to the Country was also aired during its allotted time.

A statement by the BBC reads “We are disappointed that the NUJ has gone ahead with today’s strike and apologise to our audience for the disruption to services. Unfortunately industrial action does not alter the fact that the BBC has significant savings targets and as a consequence may have to make a number of compulsory redundancies. We have made considerable progress in reducing the need for compulsory redundancies through volunteers, redeployment and cancelling vacant positions and we will continue with these efforts.”

The 24 hour strike by the National Union of Journalists will continue throughout today.