BBC journalists go on 24-hour strike

PanARMENIAN.Net - A one-day strike by journalists at the BBC has begun over compulsory redundancies at the corporation. The strike has already begun to have a noticeable effect with off-air and Radio Four's BreakfastToday programme beginning later than normal.

The National Union of Journalists balloted its members at the BBC over industrial action earlier this month. The dispute between the BBC and the Union is over compulsory redundancies within the news department. Earlier this week the NUJ offered to cancel today's strike if senior managers at the BBC agreed to meet to "resolve" the threat of compulsory redundancies. However, the strike has gone ahead and is already having an effect on BBC programming.

BBC One's flagship morning programme Breakfast has not aired in its traditional format. Regular presenters have stayed away with stand-ins once again being used. Meanwhile the BBC confirmed that Radio Four's Today programme started at the later time of 7am. The corporation said it was "disappointed" by the strike. It's currently unknown if the BBC intends to use stand-in presenters for its main news bulletins later today - such as 1pm, 6pm and 10pm - or whether their regular array of anchors will turn up for work.

A second day of industrial action is currently planned for the end of July, ATV Today reported.