NUJ sounds alarm on BBC plans to decimate jobs
The NUJ has condemned the BBC’s plans to cut around 2,000 jobs, urging the broadcaster to meaningfully engage workers and trade unions and reconsider its proposals.
In an all-staff meeting at 3pm today (15 April), BBC management said that between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs - about one in ten - could be cut across various departments. In February the corporation announced a further 10% cut to its total costs by the end of 2028-29.
In the meeting management also outlined spending reductions - including on travel, attending external events, and commissioning freelances - in addition to controls on recruitment.
Members have already reported a reduction in the number of freelance shifts across production teams, and lack of recruitment into vacant posts. The NUJ has raised concerns to the BBC about the impact these changes have on already overworked journalists.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
“Plans for more brutal job cuts are wrong, damaging and will cause uncertainty and distress for workers at the BBC.
“Previous rounds of cuts have led to reduced programming, loss of experience, unmanageable workloads, fewer opportunities and have significantly hit staff morale. These cuts severely undermine the BBC’s ability to fulfil its purposes: providing quality journalism and programming that informs, educates, and entertains.
“Plans for further cuts follow years of real-terms budget reductions and relentless cost-saving measures which have impacted core parts of the corporation. This can't go on. The BBC cannot provide quality journalism without the talented and experienced workers who make it possible.
“The union condemns these plans. Charter Renewal provides a huge opportunity to guarantee the BBC’s future for generations to come. The NUJ’s ‘Back the BBC’ campaign has called for increased funding, worker representation on the BBC board - and real independent governance.
“However, today’s announcement shows positive reforms that could flow from the Charter Renewal process will simply not come soon enough. The NUJ is sounding the alarm and calling on government and the new director general to pay attention and take action to stop these damaging cuts and listen to the views of audiences, workers and their unions. The BBC belongs to all of us and we need to fight for it.
“We also urge members to contact their reps and get involved in the union. If you have colleagues who are not yet members, please encourage them to join and stand with us. By working in solidarity, sharing information, and supporting one another, we can fight to protect jobs, terms and conditions.”
If you are a worker at the BBC and worried about these proposed cuts, you can reach the NUJ either by contacting your rep or official. If you’re unsure who to contact, please email [email protected].
Resisting such damaging cuts requires collective organisation and a unified voice, which means standing together as a union. If you’re not already a member, join the NUJ.
Learn more about our Back the BBC campaign, including how to get involved and our calls for Charter Renewal.