BBC Wales union members vote for strike ballot

Union members at BBC Cymru Wales in Bangor and Cardiff are to be balloted for strike action over the "shock dismissal" of TV producer Heidi Williams, a long-standing senior Bectu official. The broadcast union Bectu and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have today served notice on BBC Cymru Wales of their intention to run strike ballots starting next Friday (20 April). Bectu assistant general secretary Luke Crawley told Journalism.co.uk the ballot is over the "treatment of union activists, specifically Heidi Williams" who he said was "dismissed" last month. "Members are very angry" Crawley added, and have voted unanimously to be balloted. Ballot papers will be distributed on Friday with a closing date of Monday 14 May. If members vote for industrial action a strike date will be set for Tuesday 22 May. A 24-hour strike by Bectu members took place at BBC Cymru Wales in September over the compulsory redundancies of four editors at BBC Cymru Wales. Crawley added in a statement: "Management must understand that the mistreatment of our representatives is an assault on the membership and we are confident that members will back the call for strike action and, furthermore, take action should senior management fail to resolve the issues surrounding Heidi's dismissal." Sue Harris, NUJ broadcasting organiser said in a statement: "The union condemns the victimisation of trade unionists and we stand together with Bectu on this issue. The NUJ calls on management to take immediate action to resolve the dispute." A BBC Cymru Wales spokesperson said in a statement: "The BBC works closely with the joint unions and acts in accordance with our agreed processes to address staff issues. "Whilst such processes are underway and are yet to reach their conclusion, we believe it inappropriate to comment further."