They included Alan Johnston (pictured) , who spent four months in captivity after being kidnapped in Gaza in 2007.

Members of the NUJ and sister union BECTU waved plastic cutlery to demonstrate their support for the canteen workers and opposition to changes to the catering facilites at Bush House.

The unions members - who boycotted the canteen today - have also launched a petition calling on the sub-contractors Aramark to re-instate the canteen workers while negotiations continue.

Pat Styles, a national official of BECTU - who represent the canteen workers, said: "The BBC has failed to consult meaningfully with us about the proposed changes to catering provision at Bush House, and despite the serious concerns we have raised, management has imposed a cut in the service.

"On the same day as these reductions were imposed we also discovered that Aramark had dismissed several of our members, including some of our elected representatives."

The co-chair of the BBC World Service branch of the NUJ, Mike Workman, also criticised the way in which the dismissals had been announced.

He said news and production staff at the World Service fully supported the sacked workers and highlighted the fact that this was linked to the ongoing dispute between the BBC and the unions over the canteen service.

Mike added: "We are particularly concerned with the range and quality of food being offered to night workers. They have no choice but to eat in Bush House in the early hours of the morning."

• Background
• Alan Johnston thanks the NUJ

 

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