Bectu points finger at government for 450 BBC job cuts
Government policy including decisions around free licences for over 75s, rather than poor management, have led to the BBC cuts announced today (29 January).
BBC Broadcasting House, London
That is the view from Bectu, the union for creative ambition, which has already started discussions with the BBC about the 450 roles that will be affected.
- The BBC has also announced changes, including job losses, to Newsnight, 5 live News, Editorial analysis, radio bulletins. Separately, from news, redundancies are also being made in radio production and operations. These announcements follow on from last week when it emerged that the Victoria Derbyshire show would be axed.
Bectu has consistently warned that budget pressures would lead to job losses.
Bectu national secretary Noel McClean said: “The redundancies announced today in BBC News and radio production show the difficult savings decisions the BBC is being forced to make because of continued budget constraints.
“It would be easy to point the finger at BBC management, and we will absolutely hold them to account, but Bectu knows that the reality is much more complicated and that government policy (including decisions around free licences for over 75’s) has led to the pressures that impact our members and audiences.
“Bectu will be doing everything it can to minimise the impact of today’s announcement. We have already met with the BBC to start consultation about their proposals and timescales about how staff can be deployed to other areas rather than losing their jobs.
“The unprecedented constraints faced by the BBC will leave our members under even more pressure to deliver the output and service that has made this essential public service the envy of the international broadcasting community and risks its future viability.”
- Read a blog by head of Bectu Philippa Childs on the meaning of the cuts for staff and Bectu members
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