STAFF at the BBC are plotting to disrupt live TV coverage of the Pope’s visit to Britain.
The Mirror newspaper reports that BBC staff are threatening to blackout coverage of the Holy Father’s state visit in September as part of their dispute with BBC management over pensions.
The Express reports: ‘The unprecedented action would form part of strike plans by broadcasting unions. Ballot papers are being sent out on Thursday with a result expected by September 9.’
‘The proposed action during Pope Benedict XVl’s tour will be a huge embarrassment to the corporation. It is his first state visit to Britain and the country’s 7.5 million Catholics will be infuriated if the historic occasion is caught up in the BBC’s latest controversy.’
Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the union Bectu said:
‘If the vote is for a strike then we will focus action on key broadcasts…the Pope’s visit is also a clear target for us.’
Whilst we’re on the subject of the BBC:
Tags: Media
August 1st, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Call me cynical, but if it were President Obama visiting, would a union rep also describe this as a “clear target”?