Sound of silence looms as BBC radio staff vote to strike

BBC radio shows could be disrupted when hundreds of production staff stage two one-day strikes later this month.

Broadcasting union Bectu said shows on Radio One, Two and Four could be affected as well as having an impact on sports staff working at Radio Five Live.

The union said it expected 500 staff to walk out over plans to merge a number of production jobs into a single role.

The BBC said it would be “disappointed” if listeners were affected and it was “keen to resolve” the problem.

In December, 60% of the union’s members voted in favour of taking industrial action.

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Bectu officer Luke Crawley said: “Our members are saying that they are prepared to strike because they are not happy with the BBC’s proposals.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson met union representatives in January over plans to shed 3,780 posts over three years.