South Asia strike ballot begins

Ballot papers go out today to NUJ members of the World Service South Asia Services. They have been engaged in a long running battle against offshore outsourcing. John McDonnell spoke in parliament about the issues, although it's quite a long extract I think it gives a good account of what we are dealing with;

16 Dec 2008 : 10.14 am

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): I am a Member of
Parliament for a multicultural west London constituency. A number of
my constituents work at the BBC and some in the World Service, and
most have a direct interest in it.

Kofi Annan called the BBC World Service the best gift to the world
from London. Some of us worry that that gift is under the threat of
diminution by the policies of the BBC management. The outgoing
director of the World Service, Nigel Chapman, said that he wanted to
outsource at least 50 per cent. of World Service programming to the
respective countries. That sounds like any other outsourcing, but it
threatens the quality, standards and objectivity of the broadcast
service. The World Service is an independent international broadcaster
and is famous for the refrain, "This is London calling." Without the
geographical distance, it ceases to be independent.

Members of the National Union of Journalists and the Broadcasting
Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union from the south Asia
region of the World Service are campaigning to save three language
services that are under threat from plans to offshore their jobs and
the output. The BBC Hindi, Urdu and Nepali services will be seriously
undermined if those plans go ahead. Staff have resisted the plans for
over a year and through negotiations have sought an agreement that
preserves the fundamental World Service principles: quality, integrity
and, above all else, independence. Those talks are ongoing but seem
likely to stall this week as management wants to forge ahead with its
plans without agreement.

Under management proposals, editorial control will be ceded from the
UK in favour of localised output in Nepal, India and Pakistan.
Questions have been raised over the BBC's ability to retain editorial
independence. Staff discovered a deal struck with the Pakistan
regulatory body to give authorities in Islamabad the power to hear
bulletins prior to broadcast. Although the management claim that no
such arrangement exists, it is important that nothing is done that
jeopardises the BBC's editorial independence. Those allegations
warrant further investigation and there should be an independent
Foreign Office investigation.

The reputation of the World Service has been built over decades.
Millions of listeners rely upon the World Service because they trust
it to be an independent voice. Localising editorial control in
countries such as Pakistan and Nepal will bring unacceptable pressures
to staff in those territories. While we believe that all BBC staff
will fight to maintain its independence, it is in the strong interests
of the BBC to ensure that its staff can act free from external
influence. That is difficult enough even in this country with the
constant political pressure. The threats are more direct from foreign
Governments in some areas of the globe.

The BBC has set up private companies in India, Pakistan and Nepal that
pave the way for localised commercial businesses. Such businesses will
have to comply with local commercial law and will not be governed from
the UK, as they are now. The NUJ and BECTU have been asking for
details of those companies and their planned and present activities.
Management has thus far failed to give any meaningful information or
assurances. If the BBC offshores not only output but editorial control
to overseas territories, that too will have to comply with local media
regulation. The fear is that the freedom of the press is variable in
such territories, and that that will impact on World Service output.

Staff who have served the BBC and the country well for decades are
anxious that their professionalism and independence is under threat.
If we do not act now and if the Government do not take a serious
interest in this matter, we will live to regret it in future years.
There must be a review of the policy of localising editorial control
and an end to the dismantling of the World Service in certain parts of
the globe, which we have seen over recent years. The Thai service is
just one example of where we have lived to regret the withdrawal of a
service in a key part of the world. It must be asserted that editorial
control over World Service output will be retained in the UK and there
must be an end to outsourcing in this way. Any job losses in the UK
need to be negotiated to ensure that at least there is no compulsory
redundancy or loss of editorial integrity and that BBC management goes
forward with the wholehearted support of employees and the confidence
of the wider community.

BBC World Service South Asia strike ballot

Text of a letter to BBC World Service members:

South Asia restructure - offshoring of production and staff
To all NUJ Members at World Service

Colleagues

I am writing to update you on the developing situation concerning World Service proposals to offshore jobs and production overseas in the Hindi, Urdu and Nepali services.

The NUJ has been in negotiations for some time concerning managements proposals. They form part of a wider strategy, within World Service management, to offshore more than 50% of production overseas.

The NUJ has raised concerns about this, not just from the point of view of members jobs, but also asking how editorial authority and impartiality would be maintained if the BBC shifts its editorial focus overseas, and crucially, out of Bush House where it has resided for more than seventy years.

The proposals for the South Asia services represent a significant shift away from London, both in terms of production and in terms of editorial control. During last year, we discovered that the arrangements for broadcasting within Pakistan where not sufficient to guarantee editorial control, and will remain concerned that non-BBC staff ,working for commercial limited companies overseas ( such as BBC India Ltd, etc), under questionable regulatory and political regimes, may not be able to uphold the BBC's hallmark of quality and impartiality.

During the course of our negotiations some changes where discussed however, these did provide sufficient guarantees in terms of production as outlined above, nor has there been any guarantee in terms of ruling out compulsory redundancy for staff in these areas.

Members roundly rejected managements plans in a consultative postal ballot returned by nearly 90% of members. World Service management have now decided to try and press ahead with its plans without the agreement of the staff involved or the NUJ.

In response to the this, the Union has issued notice to the BBC of our intention to ballot members, in this area, for strike action. Whilst this is something we do not do lightly, members feel it is a necessary step to protect the BBC's ability to remain impartial and to prevent management from imposing unacceptable solutions on our members.

The ballot will begin on Friday of this week and will end on Friday the 13th February 2009.

We will keep you updated. Please forward messages of support to Rajesh Priyadarshi rajeshpriyadarshi@gmail.com

Paul McLaughlin
National Broadcasting Organiser
National Union of Journalists

trouble at bbc world service

The following resolution was passed at the Annual Delegate conference of the NUJ earlier this month as previously posted. The issue is of very serious concern and the Union is working, with colleagues in BECTU to oppose this dangerous and unacceptable development, not only for staff at the World Service but also for the integrity and protection of the BBC itself .



LNM 19

This ADM condemns proposals tabled in March 2008 to offshore large parts of the BBC’s World Service Output. The most recent example involves the Nepali, Hindi and Urdu sections and if carried would involve closing posts in the UK and replacing UK output with material produced abroad. This will involve a dramatic worsening of terms and conditions, jobs, and will inevitably result in compromises to the editorial integrity, as the BBC will have to comply with local media law and policy.

This ADM instructs the NEC to work with the BIC to fight these plans in the interests of members and the editorial independence of the BBC.

world service offshore outsourcing

Arjum Wajid addresses the NUJ annual conference in Belfast. Speaking about recent proposals to move large parts of BBC World Service output overseas. This practice has implications in terms of the BBCs integrity and impartiality as well as presenting a threat to existing hard working staff and freelances. The latest plans involve outsourcing of much of the Urdu, Hindi and Nepali services. The host countries have poor records on human rights and freedom of the press. As such, Incorporated local companies which the BBC would set up will be subject to media laws and practices from the host country. Members within the services will be pleased that the Unions governing body strongly supported their campaign.

Offshore outsourcing

World Service re-visit

Snappily dressed tables adorned one of the BBC World Service lobbies this lunchtime. We were there to step up our campaign to win union rights for people who work in editorial at the service on a freelance and casual basis. We handed out some more leaflets and talked to people about the petition we're putting together. If enough people sign to say they want the union to represent them on issues like pay and holidays we have a real chance of improving things.

World Service

Day two of the NUJ campaign for Union rights for casuals and freelances at the World Service. The canteen at Bush House must be the most multicultural place in the UK bar none. With the BBC broadcasting in more than thirty languages, the menu is wide and varied. The Scots palate doesn't get a look in though, sadly no deep fried mars bar or pizza in batter.

World's apart

Today we launched the campaign for Union rights for all at the World Service. Although the NUJ can negotiate for editorial staff, the service relies heavily on the efforts of freelance and casuals who do not have same rights or status as the colleagues they work along side. Many have not had an increase in pay for several years. They are some of the most vulnerable workers at the BBC. We aim to secure rights for these members and begin to redress the balance in their favour.

BBC reaction Bush House

A day of reaction to yesterday's revelations. Quite a lot of anger internally, and a media witch hunt has begun. There will be casualties, probably the wrong ones . Open letter to M Thompson.

The afternoon was spent at Bush House with a dispute over proposed changes in the World Service Chinese section. 20% cuts will leave the service overstretched and threatens compulsory redundancies for members. A little bit of sense emerged which will allow talks to go forward but with nearly a half a million pound gap tough talks lie ahead.

Bush House

After the inevitable journey to BBC white city for meetings, a trip to Bush House to discuss the situation of freelances and casuals in the language services. They are a very vulnerable group who should be treated with fairness and respect.