NUJ 'overwhelmed' by support for BBC strike

The NUJ said today it was "overwhelmed" by support for its first 48 hour strike over pensions at the BBC, which began at midnight.

The union said: "We’ve already been overwhelmed by the support for the campaign so far from staff at the BBC and not just NUJ members. Colleagues in Bectu have inundated us with messages of support, with many refusing to cross picket lines to get into work.

"It’s clear that staff right across the BBC are keen for us to win - as it would mean a better pensions deal for all."

The action wiped out this morning's Today programme on Radio 4. According to the NUJ, 95 per cent of world service newsroom is out on strike; there are pickets at BBC Scotland HQ in Glasgow; The World Today (BBC World Service) has been pulled; the Good Morning Scotland flagship breakfast radio programme has not been broadcast; and all NUJ members are on strike at BBC Radio Cornwall.

The union is expecting to have picket lines at BBC London – TV Centre/White City, Bush House and Millbank. BBC Scotland - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeen and Inverness. BBC Cardiff, BBC Bristol, BBC Belfast. BBC Manchester, BBC Merseyside and BBC Lancashire. BBC Tunbridge Wells, BBC Southampton, BBC Nottingham, BBC Leeds, BBC Hull, BBC Newcastle, BBC Birmingham, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, BBC Lincolnshire, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC Monitoring at Caversham, BBC Jersey, BBC Stoke, BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC Spotlight, BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Suffolk, BBC Look East, BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

Outside of the UK pickets are expected at BBC sites in Kabul, Washington, Paris, Rome, Los Angeles and Istanbul.