BBC News staff begin strike

Presenters including Radio 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell were involved in the BBC strike, and newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards are expected to join the strike later.

Radio 4’s flagship Today programme was forced off the air and other broadcasts are likely to be affected, including World At One. Pre-recorded programmes are being broadcast instead.

The 6am bulletin on Radio 4 mentioned the strike, before announcing: “We are sorry but as you heard in the news, because of industrial action called by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), we are unable to bring you our scheduled programme.”

BBC Breakfast News on the television, however, went ahead.

What programmes are on? 
The BBC is updating its schedule throughout the day, but so far has made the following commitments: 

- Radio 4 will broadcast a three minute news bulletin every hour 
- Daily Politics Show with Andrew Neil is on BBC 2 
- Radio 2 expected to broadcast as normal 
- BBC News Channel and BBC News Online covering day's main stories 
- BBC News At One likely to run 
- BBC One Breakfast ran as normal from 6am 

And what programmes are off? 
- No news bulletins on 6 Music
- Radio 5 Live - Simon Mayo's show replaced by repeats
- Today show on Radio 4 replaced by Lord Kitchener's Image 
- Radio 3 had no breakfast show 
- All 40 radio stations are on air - but only half operating normal service 
- Radio Scotland replaced by 5 Live output; Good Morning Ulster replaced by 5 Live output, with bulletins from Belfast at 7am and 8am. 

Members of the NUJ began the 48-hour strike at midnight and set up picket lines, including TV Centre in London. More strikes are planned later this month and possibly over Christmas. The BBC did threaten to strike over the Conservative Party Conference earlier this year, but BBC staff called off the planned strike.

The NUJ has 4,100 members at the BBC.

‘Significant impact’ on news output

The dispute centres on the BBC’s plans to reduce its £1.5bn pension deficit by capping pensionable pay increases at 1 per cent from next April. The amount BBC staff pay into the scheme would be reduced, from 7 per cent to 6 per cent, and in return they get a “career-average” benefit pension, based on the average salary over their whole career. It would be valued up by 4 per cent every year, an increased on the previous offer of 2.5 per cent.

When drawing the pension, the former staff would see payments increase in line with inflation – by up to 4 per cent, also up from 2.5 per cent.

Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the NUJ, told the Press Association: “We are having a significant impact on news and current affairs programmes, demonstrating the depth of anger at the pensions proposals.

“It is a clear indication that BBC journalists will stand up for a fair pension deal.“

He said 94 per cent of journalists in the World Service newsroom were striking.

Public who ‘lose out’

A BBC spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed the NUJ have gone ahead with today’s industrial action. This is despite the other four unions accepting our revised offer, and feedback from staff that indicates the same. It is the public who lose out and we apologise for any disruption to services.”

BBC director general Mark Thompson said: “We believe that much of the output of the BBC will be unaffected by this action. However, it is inevitable that some programmes and content will be disrupted.

“It has never been more important to ensure the BBC is spending every penny of licence fee payers money wisely and delivering the quality programmes and services audiences want. We believe the current pension proposals are realistic and affordable, and will provide fair pension provision for BBC staff for the future.

“This has been a difficult period for staff. However, the people who lose out most in any strike action are the very people we are here to serve – our audiences.”

Firefighters

A separate strike by London firefighters has been called off. The strike was due to begin today and last over Bonfire Night, but has been called off over public safety fears.