Bectu Strike Hits BBC News Production Facilities

According to Bectu round 100 members working for BBC News have taken strike action over new working patterns.
A 24-hour strike in the department that provides engineering and IT support for BBC News programmes began at 10pm November 14.
Union members working in News Production Facilities who were on duty at the start of the strike walked out of BBC buildings in West London and a political programme centre in Millbank, Westminster, Picket lines were established, and a union presence is expected outside the affected buildings throughout Wednesday November 15, the day of the State Opening of Parliament.
Union officials reported that support for the strike was "solid."
The dispute that led to the strike was sparked off when BBC managers announced that existing shift and rota patterns were to be thrown into disarray in January 2007.
Dozens of staff in the News Production Facilities area have left the BBC on voluntary redundancy terms under DG Mark Thompson's cost-cutting reorganisation in the last year, and managers were hoping to fill the gaps by calling the remaining staff into work more often and sometimes without adequate notice of work obligations.
Talks between Bectu and BBC News failed to resolve the dispute, and tempers flared when staff were told that the changes in rotas and local working practices would be imposed without agreement.
It is understood that no formal approach has been made by the BBC since the strike was announced, and the union has pledged to hold further strike action on November 23 and 24.
(SP)