By John Thackara, Campaign Against Media THE BBC, concerned employees may take action over the content of programmes, SCU procedure to deal with such cases and to head off the possibility of collective action.
The Corporation's concern doubt arises from recent instances of writers and producers criticising the BBC's censorship drama and documentary programmes dealing with Ireland, and from the response to the broadcast last April of political broadcast by National Front.
When TV stations in eight cities were picketed during the broadcast, the BBC took the staffing key centres exclusively with management personnel.
Socialist Challenge 1 November 1979 secretary, the that has begun disciplinary hearings in such cases.
July, as publicly of Broadcasting National Union of Journalists.
conduct on and puts the nary discussion, of racist or ally But it was, ironically, an Asian technician who was asked to start the video-machine at BBC TV Centre that put Martin webster on the air, and the technician refused to do it. Now terms the Corporation is trying to get the disciplinary A first meeting was held on 23 result of which Hugh Pierce, the BBC's assistant controller has sent a confidential letter to the Association This aims to establish a 'Code of matters of conscience' forward a number of proposals arising from the prelimiwhich the letter stresses are only of a tentative nature.
But Piece makes clear that the BBC has no intention of recognising the right of its employees to object to reactionary ¡ content of programmes.
His letter states that the working party on 23 July agreed to examine the make-up' of a body whose sole of reference would be determine whether his (the employee's) refusal to undertake the duties concerned is justified in all the circumstances or not'.
The concluding paragraph adds "The recognised unions for their part agree that in such cases (where the employee tound action on their part shall be limiter exclusively the advocacy representation of the individual concerned' - in plain English, that means they won't LaKC action.
That's the BBC's version of what it would like the agreement to say, and so far the discussions have not been communicated to members of the ABS, the main union concerned.
Such an agreement, if