The BBC has cancelled its local news broadcasts on BBC One today as a result of staff walkouts in opposition to planed cuts to local radio programming. The cooperation tweeted: "Due to industrial action, there will be no Points West on BBC One today at 1.30pm, 6.30pm, 10.30pm.
"These programmes will be replaced with BBC News, and our Breakfast bulletins tomorrow will be provided by our team in Salford. There are also changes to our local radio schedules."
Radio Bristol host John Darvall is not presenting his usual mid-morning show. Yesterday he tweeted about the NUJ's strike action saying: "I am not on the radio tomorrow, and this is why.
Read More Bristol strikes LIVE as teachers, junior doctors, Met Office and BBC staff walk out
"This dispute is NOT about pay. This is about you, the listener and the future of your local radio and all local media. I am back at 11 am Thursday. For warned is forearmed."
BBC West staff have begun a 24-hour walkout over proposed cuts to its local radio services and job losses. The plans, unveiled by BBC bosses last year, will see the service scrap dedicated region-specific programming across all 39 English local radio stations after 2.00 pm on weekdays and at weekends, replacing them with broader shared and even national content.
It's believed that nearly 50 jobs will be lost in the controversial overhaul of programming across England. The cuts to funding for local radio production come as the cooperation plans instead to invest further in online local news.
Under the plans, local programming will only run on weekdays between 6.00 am and 2.00 pm, with the BBC producing 18-afternoon programmes across England shared among its 39 stations. Ten local programmes will be shared between 6.00 pm and 10.00 pm on weekdays, all day on Saturday and on Sunday mornings, serving areas broadly mirroring existing local TV areas.
According to the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the changes mean that staff have had to re-apply for their roles in a diminished job pool. The NUJ says that in Bristol, longstanding BBC West presenters, including Steve Yabsley, Claire Cavanagh and Ali Vowles, are competing with colleagues from other stations across the South-West.
The NUJ reports that while presenting interviews have taken place, as they go into Wednesday's walkout, staff are still in the dark about who has a job to return to in the long term. The NUJ Bristol Branch has been picketing Broadcasting House on Whiteladies Road in Bristol since 10.45 am, with their colleagues at BBC West, which covers Points West and BBC Bristol, starting a 24-hour walkout at 11.00am.
Strike action was called after 83 per cent of NUJ members voted in favour of a walkout. In the ballot, in which 69 per cent took part, the majority of members declared that they had no confidence in BBC bosses' plans.
James Garrett, chair of the Bristol branch of the NUJ, said, "As it is, of the £159 paid by licence fee-payers each year, just £7.60 is spent on local radio. Yet it still manages to do magnificent work.
"NUJ members are sad and angry, so soon after having their efforts praised by their bosses for providing a lifeline to isolated people and communities during the Covid crisis, that they have to compete with their colleagues for the handful of jobs which would remain."
He added: "We have no issue with the BBC's plans to increase digital content, but this should not be done at the expense of output that connects diverse communities across England."
The NUJ has urged the region's MPs to support Early Day Motion No 920 in Parliament. This calls on BBC managers "to meaningfully engage over the plans and ensure that local radio services are protected."
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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