BBC Staff Vote To Stage Biggest Strike In 13 Years; King Charles’ Coronation Could Be Targeted

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://deadline.com/2023/02/bbc-staff-strike-vote-king-charles-coronation-1235274000/

UPDATED: BBC staff will stage their first 24-hour strike from 11AM on March 15, which has been timed to coincide with the UK’s government’s Budget. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has confirmed that the Coronation and Eurovision are also targets for industrial action.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “This emphatic result demonstrates the strength of feeling amongst BBC members and their determination not to stand by and see local radio output dismantled. I would urge the BBC to take stock and meaningfully engage so that we can come to a solution that acknowledges the vital role that quality, relevant and genuinely local news plays in our public service broadcaster.”

 

[Miss Tuned]

This is a strike specifically at local BBC radio stations against cutbacks to their output:

Strike action coming to Local BBC Radio following official ballot

NUJ members working for BBC England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

radiotoday.co.uk

It shouldn't affect things like the coronation, as these events are carried on national BBC radio and TV. Living here, levels of anticipation for the coronation could be described generously as "nonexistent" - it is receiving almost no media coverage, there's no buzz, and locals simply aren't as bothered about it as Americans are. There are other things to worry about.

 

[Kelly A]

Well, if they wanted to get the BBC's attention, striking during such a high profile event would sure do the trick. Of course, the BBC is government funded, so ultimately they could all be out of work soon after the strike. See: Bit the hand that fed them.

 

[Miss Tuned]

Well, if they wanted to get the BBC's attention, striking during such a high profile event would sure do the trick. Of course, the BBC is government funded, so ultimately they could all be out of work soon after the strike. See: Bit the hand that fed them.

It's a bit more complex than "the BBC is government funded". The BBC is funded by a license fee, but it's the government (in negotiation with the BBC) who decide on the level of that fee each year and its renewal altogether (as part of the BBC Charter) every 11 years. Taxpayers' money doesn't go to the BBC - if I choose not to own a television or watch live television, I don't pay a single cent. It's a totally separate bill.

The right-wing Conservative government have chosen to freeze the license fee at current levels, but we're in a period of high inflation, so in effect the BBC's funding is dropping, hence these cutbacks to services including local radio and the BBC's 24/7 news TV station. There's also a national context of a wave of strikes across public services generally - the NHS, teachers, university staff, firefighters, trains, mail and other services all have ongoing disputes with the government and employers.

The next charter renewal is in 2027, after the next national election which will be held in 2024 or early 2025. It is likely that the center-left Labour party will be in power after that election (they are currently 20+ points ahead in the polls) and they have traditionally taken a less adversarial stance toward the BBC.

 

[Kelly A]

It's a bit more complex than "the BBC is government funded". The BBC is funded by a license fee, but it's the government (in negotiation with the BBC) who decide on the level of that fee each year and its renewal altogether (as part of the BBC Charter) every 11 years. Taxpayers' money doesn't go to the BBC - if I choose not to own a television or watch live television, I don't pay a single cent. It's a totally separate bill.

Sure, but beyond the semantics; the government still controls the purse strings. It can make life really tough over at Portland and Langham Place if the monarchy gets it's nose out of joint. Striking during the coronation, would be a real sock in the snoot.

The right-wing Conservative government have chosen to freeze the license fee at current levels, but we're in a period of high inflation, so in effect the BBC's funding is dropping, hence these cutbacks to services including local radio and the BBC's 24/7 news TV station.

Listening and viewing is down because; just like everywhere else, more people get their news and entertainment via smartphones.

There's also a national context of a wave of strikes across public services generally - the NHS, teachers, university staff, firefighters, trains, mail and other services all have ongoing disputes with the government and employers.

Sure, the Brit's have an long track record being willing to strike at the drop of a hat. Automobile manufacturing over the years has been an good example.

 

[Miss Tuned]

I think you overstate the importance of the monarchy in modern British life. Most people don't even think about them day-to-day, even at a time like this where their presence is more prominent than usual due to a change at the top. They don't wield the kind of political influence that you think they do - it's not 1953.

In any case, if BBC local radio stations (which are the topic here) go on strike during the coronation (which isn't even confirmed) then the BBC will simply put out a national feed on the local stations. The BBC may well put out a national feed on the local stations anyway, they have done so quite a number of times in recent years during major national events.

There's no suggestion of BBC national TV and radio going on strike, nobody else has been balloted for industrial action, this is a dispute affecting NUJ members at BBC local radio stations. The worst that will happen is that a few "rewind hours" and "what's your favorite biscuit" phone-ins get disrupted.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Much of the video coverage of the Coronation will be pooled, with each network, British or foreign, using their own anchors and reporters (i.e. Huw Edwards for the BBC, Savannah Guthrie and Lester Holt for NBC, etc., etc.) over pictures that will be shared by dozens, if not hundreds, of networks around the world (some of the networks in "major" countries will have a couple of cameras each in their anchor booths to put their anchors and interview guests on camera).

But if there's a strike by BBC television technicians at the time of the Coronation, assuming they were scheduled to run the TV camera pool, someone else will have to undertake running the TV pool equipment, even if it means crossing picket lines.

 

[Miss Tuned]

I'm not sure why this thread continues in this same vein - there's no threat to television coverage of the coronation from a strike by local radio staff. These radio stations run pop music and local news in various individual regions of England and have no bearing on national television programming. Presumably Deadline Hollywood are unable to grasp the idea that the BBC does more than one thing - but this is very specifically to do with a dispute within local radio.

In any case, there is more to life in the UK than the royals and the coronation. We simply don't think about them for the vast majority of the time. I live here and even I'm not precisely sure of the date of the coronation. The idea that "coverage of the coronation" is the most significant thing that could be affected on the BBC is very American.

There is another strike ballot within the BBC, this time due to similar cutbacks to programming at BBC Radio Foyle, a station covering Derry and surrounding areas in Northern Ireland:

NUJ ballots for industrial action as Radio Foyle discussions breakdown

The National Union of Journalists wants industrial action saying BBC Northern Ireland management has abandoned good faith negotiations.

radiotoday.co.uk

 

[installLSC]

For what it's worth, BBC Local Radio did broadcast coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral so it makes sense they would cover the coronation too. Of course everyone in the UK and beyond will have multiple options and I can't imagine many people would choose radio over TV coverage anyway.

 

[Kelly A]

I'm not sure why this thread continues in this same vein - there's no threat to television coverage of the coronation from a strike by local radio staff.

You new to Radiodiscussions.com? If so, welcome! Just so you know, discussion topics don't have to be current nor correct for a lengthy, unhinged rabbit hole to open. Once the topic goes off the rails, we all get sucked in like a giant shop vacuum to bizarre world.

In any case, there is more to life in the UK than the royals and the coronation.

Not according the Harry and Megan! 😵

We simply don't think about them for the vast majority of the time. I live here and even I'm not precisely sure of the date of the coronation.

Saturday May 6, 2023

There is another strike ballot within the BBC, this time due to similar cutbacks to programming at BBC Radio Foyle, a station covering Derry and surrounding areas in Northern Ireland:

Damn! I was hoping the TV folks would go on strike, so I could justify a trip across the pond to act as a strike-breaking-Yank-scab.