Journalists at the BBC centre in Nottingham will go on strike for 48 hours this week.
The action is because of a continued dispute over proposals to cut Local Radio output.
Over 80 per cent of members of the National Union of Journalists across England backed the walkout, including staff from BBC Radio Nottingham, BBC East Midlands Today and East Midlands news online.
The strike – on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 June – comes as NUJ members across England have passed a vote of no confidence in the BBC Local Senior Leadership Team.
93 per cent of those polled said they didn’t back the current managers, after months of frustration over proposed changes to programmes.
Under the plans, BBC Radio Nottingham’s weekday afternoon show would come from Leicester and also be shared with Derby. Evening and weekend programming would be either be regional or even national, with the exception of news bulletins and sports coverage.
Paul Siegert, the NUJ’s Broadcasting Organiser, said:
“Members have shared their disappointment over the treatment of colleagues who have had to reapply for their jobs. Results of the (no confidence) vote indicate the strength of many journalists, alongside frustrations about the BBC’s handling of the dispute, Members wants to avoid strike action and remain doing the jobs they love.
“The NUJ is urging the BBC to reconsider its planes that will leave a lasting impact on Local Radio.”
Kevin Stanley, NUJ Rep for BBC Nations and Regions, who is based at BBC Radio Nottingham, added:
“The BBC wants to move some of its existing budget to digital content. We absolutely agree that a greater digital presence is need, but we don’t agree that this should come from cutting parts of the existing BBC Local budget.
“The BBC should be looking at providing a properly funded local news service, and ensuring that the Government provides a stable funding model for this to happen.”
