LIVE programmes on BBC television could be affected today because of a strike by the broadcasting union, Bectu. The 24-hour stoppage, which started at midnight, went ahead despite the fact that union officials and BBC chiefs started talks at the arbitration service Acas yesterday, writes Allan Laing.
The BBC's director of personnel, Margaret Salmon, said: ''It is very disappointing that, while discussions have begun, Bectu have not called off their strike action.''
The union held a ballot earlier this year which backed industrial action in support of its claims over salary, multi-skilling, and disquiet over the corporation's plan to transfer staff into a new subsiduary - BBC Resources Ltd - to make it more competitive. The union claims that the proposal is ''a prelude to privatisation''.
Bectu official Gerry Morrissey said he was expecting 10,000 to 12,000 members of the union to support today's strike.
''What we'll see is work stopping on a new drama Vanity Fair, a day's shooting will be lost on EastEnders, and they'll stop transporting people over to France to prepare for the World Cup. There's quite a lot going to be happening,'' he said.
Bectu will also be concentrating its efforts on Edgbaston for the first cricket Test, but BBC Resources said contingency plans had been prepared.
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