PTI
London, Feb 26: BBC's Hindi, Urdu and Nepali service journalists went on a strike on Thursday to protest plans that will allegedly result in 34 job losses and outsourcing of editorial content to the Indian sub-continent, even as a motion has been tabled in the House of Commons in their support.
Journalists from Hindi, Urdu and Nepali sections walked out from their newsrooms at 00.01 hours (GMT) today and are scheduled to continue the strike until 23.59 hours.
Meanwhile, the motion, tabled by senior Labour leader John McDonnell, expressed "grave concern" at the BBC World Service's decision to allegedly "impose its plans to offshore 100 per cent of Hindi output and 50 percent of Nepali and Urdu output, which will result in many job losses".
The motion, supported by several MPs, said the BBC's plans "worsened pay and conditions for staff who moved overseas and could have serious consequences for editorial independence".
The MPs urged the BBC World Service management to reconsider its position and enter into a positive dialogue with the unions representing BBC World Service's staff.
A demonstration by the striking journalists outside the BBC's historic Bush House here has been scheduled for 3 pm today.
Termed 'Save the BBC World Service' campaign, the strike has been supported by Britain's National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Broadcast Entertainment Cinema Theatre Union (BECTU).
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ Deputy General Secretary, said: "Their fight is vital for the future of our profession. I urge NUJ members, other trade unionists and anybody who cares about good quality independent media to send messages of support to both picket lines."
Mike Gardner, BBC's Head of Media and Public Relations, told PTI: "BBC World Service is disappointed that members of the joint unions have voted to support industrial action and have not accepted the management's revised proposals for the restructure of BBC Hindi, BBC Nepalese, and BBC Urdu.
"We believe the proposals will create new opportunities for staff and greatly improve our service to our audiences in the region. Our individual discussions with staff have already significantly reduced the number of those potentially facing redeployment from more than 30 to 10."
The NUJ said that its members were concerned that the BBC's proposals, which were allegedly imposed by the management without union agreement, failed to take into account the implications for editorial independence.
However, Gardner added: "Please be aware we are not "outsourcing" any of the services. Our proposals are to strengthen existing BBC bureaus in the region by redeploying BBC staff from London".
According to union leaders, the BBC was planning to offshore all Hindi editorial output, while the London output of the Urdu and Nepali services would be halved. The plans, they say, would seriously jeopardise the BBC's status as an independent international broadcaster.
However, the BBC said there was no evidence to support the unions' assertions that there was a threat to the BBC's editorial independence.
The BBC already had significant numbers working effectively and with total editorial independence in all three countries.
Gardner said: "Overall, some 25 per cent of staff in our 31 language services already work from modern facilities in the region to which they broadcast. We have seen no evidence of instability or potential interference in any of the areas in recent times to believe that staff in the region would be under any pressure.
"It should be noted that a significant presence in all services will remain in London. Not only is this consistent with BBC World Service policy over many years - it is consistent with the BBC's domestic policy to move staff closer to audiences".