7 May 2009
BECTU will be pressing BBC News management to ensure that a new round of job cuts does not leave remaining staff with excessive workloads which put their welfare at risk.
Management's call yesterday for a further 90 post closures in News met with an immediate challenge from BECTU and NUJ representatives.
The unions are insisting that they will resist management's current strategy for cutting costs if it continues to pose a threat to output and to staff health and safety.
Whilst staff interested in voluntary redundancy are now being invited to come forward (closing date 1 June), BECTU representatives are preparing to examine the proposals in detail.
Management have also been asked to provide stress risk assessments.
Commenting on the initial discussions, Anna Murray, BECTU national offical, said:
"The impact of these proposals will not just be on those facing potential redundancy. The so-called savings from shift changes and non-staff cuts may have a detrimental impact on workloads for our members.
"Our reps will be examining management's plans in great detail to make sure that remaining workloads and shift patterns are fair. "
This latest reorganisation is the third phase of a savings programme announced in October 2007 which sought to cut 500 jobs from BBC News over five years.
Yesterday the BBC put 49 jobs at risk in newsgathering and 18.5 at risk in the newsroom. Political output from Millbank is also affected with a proposed cut of six jobs; the programmes department is being asked to cut 15.5 posts and further savings are being sought in other sections through rota changes.
Further talks will take place in the coming weeks with a follow-up meeting at directorate level before the end of June.
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