Support the BBC strike!

• 20 Jul 2023

BBC Local journalists are out on strike again today – from 11am on Thursday 20 July to 11am Friday 21 July – go along and support them.

Details of where and when picket lines will be operating can be found on the #KeepBBCLocalRadioLocal campaign page.

The third strike by BBC Local was yet again solid, with picket lines outside radio stations across England winning huge support from local communities and normal schedules disrupted.

Lunchtime news bulletins were taken off air, and BBC management struggled to find programming, with most of it not locally produced. The walkouts were timed to affect the coverage of three by-elections.

Despite the dispute winning huge support among the 5.4m loyal local radio listeners, MPs and councillors of all parties, a huge range of charities, non-league football fans, and community groups, the BBC is going ahead with plans to cut local content by almost half, with many popular presenters losing their jobs or choosing to go.

The stakes are high for BBC members. Dozens are on the verge of being put at risk of compulsory redundancy, with others facing changes to their jobs and rotas. Those taking strike action work in local radio, regional TV and online in England. The journalists have also been on a work to rule as part of the dispute.

The BBC’s Digital First strategy is to move more local news online, despite many people still tuning into linear radio, especially the old, vulnerable, those who are not digitally savvy or do not have good digital connections. The NUJ believes the BBC, as a public service broadcaster, has a duty to include all licence fee payers.

Support the strike

Send your messages of support using the hashtag #NUJBBCStrike and tag @NUJofficial.

Pickets

• News
• Industrial
• BBC
• BBC Local Radio
• strike
• #KeepBBCLocalRadioLocal
• Broadcasting
• England

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