news One in 10 jobs to go at the BBC


THE UNION has condemned the BBC’s plans to cut around 2,000 jobs, urging the broadcaster to engage meaningfully with workers and trade unions and reconsider its proposals. The corporation announced the cuts at an all-staff meeting in mid April. BBC management said that


between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs – about one in 10 of the workforce – could be cut across various departments. In February the corporation announced a further 10 per cent cut to its total costs by the end of 2028-29. The move came shortly


after the departure of Tim Davie as director general in early April and ahead of the start of his successor Matt Brittin in mid May. The BBC is currently being


led by temporary director general Rhodri Talfan Davies,


who has been director of nations since 2021 and is currently leading the BBC’s work on generative AI. In the meeting with all staff,


the corporation’s management also outlined spending reductions – including on travel, attending external events and commissioning freelances – in addition to controls on recruitment. NUJ members have already reported a reduction in the


AMY KARLE


and distress for workers at the BBC. “Previous rounds of cuts


number of freelance shifts available across production teams, and a lack of recruitment into vacant posts. The NUJ has raised its concerns with the BBC about the impact these changes have on already overworked journalists. Laura Davison, the NUJ’s


general secretary, said: “Plans for more brutal job cuts are wrong, damaging and will cause uncertainty


have led to reduced programming, loss of experience, unmanageable workloads, fewer opportunities and have significantly hit staff morale. These cuts severely undermine the corporation’s ability to fulfil its core purposes: providing quality journalism and programming that informs, educates and entertains. “The plans for further


cuts follow years of real-terms budget reductions and relentless cost-saving measures which have impacted core parts of the corporation. This can’t go on. The BBC cannot provide quality journalism without the talented and experienced workers who make it


Strike vote at STV after zero pay offer


NUJ and Bectu members working at STV News have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a pay dispute. The strike ballot is one of the first to be held under the new Employment Rights Act. In the NUJ ballot 84 per


cent voted in favour of strike


action and 94 per cent for action short of a strike on a turnout of 73.5 per cent. In the ballot run by Bectu, which represents technical staff, 73 per cent voted for strike action and 82 per cent for action short of a strike on a turnout of 57 per cent. The ballot began on


February 18 - the day large parts of the Employment Rights Act came into force. The mandate for legally held industrial action is now 12 months, instead of six months and only 10 days’ notice for industrial action is needed compared with two weeks previously.


STV management have so


far refused to move on a zero per cent pay offer, blaming financial constraints. STV said recently that STV


News at 6 was the most watched news programme in Scotland for the 7th year in a row and average monthly online views of STV News had


Win at ITV after lengthy negotiations


THE UNION’S chapel at ITV has secured a pay rise of up to four per cent for staff and the reinstatement of a redundancy policy. ITV journalists will receive a four per cent pay rise if they earn


up to £60,000; three per cent if they earn between £60,000 and £100,000; and two per cent for those earning more than £100,000. The offer also includes a £750 non-consolidated payment. A non-pro rata £47,500 minimum redundancy payment has


also been reimplemented until December 31 2026. The pay claim was originally submitted at the start of


September 2025, with negotiations continuing over the following months. During that time, members strongly rejected offers from management before the latest agreement was


reached. The offer was also accepted by ITV members at Bectu and Unite. Martin Fisher, NUJ ITV chapel rep, said: “These were very difficult negotiations and we sensed there was a strong feeling from members of the joint unions that another below-inflation pay deal would not be accepted and that members wanted something more. This proved to be the case with the company’s offer being rejected by ballot twice. “I think what made the difference this year was how Unite,


NUJ and Bectu all stood together and supported each other. Having a united front made a massive difference around the negotiating table and ultimately forced the company to both improve their offer.


theJournalist | 03


more than doubled in 2025 to 66 million. Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ national organiser for Scotland, said: “Journalists and technical staff have worked hard to make STV News at 6 the most popular news programme and instead of being rewarded, they are being made to pay for the debts run up under chief executive Rufus Radcliffe.”


“


Plans for further cuts follow years of real-terms budget reductions and relentless cost-saving measures


Laura Davison NUJ general secretary


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28