Messages of support - http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2815 On behalf of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and its 44 affiliates across the continent, I wish you the best of luck with your strike this Monday, 18 February, against compulsory redundancies at the BBC. I was shocked to hear that NUJ members across the BBC remain at risk of compulsory redundancy. It is very miserable dejection that experienced and skilled BBC staff are particularly facing a situation of losing their livelihood. Our thoughts are with you and all our NUJ sisters and brothers as you go on strike against this appalling condition. The future of BBC journalists and quality journalism are at risk. We call on the BBC to accept constructive proposals submitted by the NUJ to resolve this labour dispute. We stand with you and are ready to help in any way we can. In solidarity, Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)
We express solidarity with our colleagues, BBC journalist who are fighting for their labor rights and quality of their professional duties. Public service broadcasting today plays very important role of key element in the dialogue of trust throughout all social groups. This role should not be underestimated. All attempts to silence or cut the voice of public broadcasting must meet strong resistance. We support our BBC colleagues in their struggle and we are confident that they will succeed. With solidarity, Tim Shafir, Head of International Dept., Russian Union of Journalists
Full solidarity and support by the Italian Federation of Journalists (Fnsi) to the struggle of the BBC workers against the redundacy plan approved. Fnsi supports our British colleagues in their action. Franco Siddi, Italian Federation of Journalists secretary general
The Media Workers Association of South Africa unequivocally supports the struggle waged by our comrades employed at the BBC. Unilateralism and abuse of managerial and corporate prerogative undermine the cornerstones and pillars of democratic values we have come to associate with the BBC. It is unacceptable that the management of the BBC insists on others to respect the concept of effective consultative process and then fail to practise the same when faced with difficult corporate choices. We accept the need to restructure the operations of one of the worlds most prominent and respected broadcasters, but we insist on respecting the notion that the BBC is without question a function of the men and women that populate its ranks. These are the people that must be genuinely consulted beyond untested considerations of expediency and convenience and we urge the management of the BBC to engage the leadership of the workers in finding solutions to jointly identified challenges confronting the BBC. Decisions taken without the input of our colleagues and comrades amongst the workforce of the BBC are unsupported and we believe such unilateral decisions serve only to fuel animosity, distrust and unsavoury conflict. We would warmly welcome and embrace reconsideration of the overlooking of the right to be consulted and for genuine appreciation of the rights of workers to be involved in decision making around the operations of the BBC, a lifetime commitment many may take for granted during these difficult times. Tuwani Gumani, Media Workers Association of South Africa general secretary
Journalists in German dju (Deutsche Journalisten-Union) in ver.di express their strong solidarity for BBC colleagues going on strike this monday to protest against compulsory redundancies and cuts across the BBC. BBC has a traditional high profile of high quality programming and this must be maintained. The German journalists community is worried about announced cuts which endanger the ability of the BBC to fulfil its responsibilities as public service broadcaster. It supports all efforts of NUJ to get a moratorium on the cuts, which would have disastrous effects. In the media landscape, public service broadcasting plays a more important role than ever before as watchdog of society. It upholds quality journalism, but the condition is that it has sufficient staff and financial ressources. Cuts are counterproductive. For dju in ver.di, representing 30 000 journalists in Germany. Wolfgang Mayer, International coordinator Deutsche Journalisten-Union
I offer you support for your actions over compulsory redundancies in the BBC. I am very concerned that compulsory redundancies at the BBC will badly affect the quality of programming it can produce. The BBC is a world renowned public broadcaster, producing top quality programmes including news and current affairs, documentaries, drama and educational and cultural programmes. The cuts as a part of Delivering Quality First are a huge risk to this. BBC Scotland alone could lose between 100 and 120 jobs in the run up to 2014 and the broadcasting challenges posed by the Commonwealth Games and the referendum on independence. The corporationâs duty to provide detailed and impartial information as a public broadcaster is threatened at a time when the arguments for and against independence begin to be made. This is an extremely important decision for Scotland, and good public programming is essential if people are to receive balanced information. I am also saddened to hear that you believe the BBC is refusing to enter meaningful negotiations over the redeployment of staff rather than compulsory redundancies. It is hard for anyone to lose employment in the current economic situation, but I can understand the anger that these job cuts come alongside newly advertised vacancies. I hope that negotiations with the BBC are forthcoming and that they change their position on compulsory redundancies. I wish you success in defending quality public service broadcasting and the option of staff redeployment, and I commend NUJ members on standing by their colleagues at risk. Katy Clark, Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran