LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Six of the UK’s leading broadcasting and creative industry unions have launched a public campaign calling on incoming BBC Director-General Matt Brittin and the UK Government to protect jobs and secure the long-term future of the BBC amid plans for significant workforce reductions .
The joint campaign, titled “Back Workers. Back Our BBC.”, is backed by Bectu, Equity, the Musicians’ Union (MU), the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), and Unite. The unions argue that sustained financial pressures are threatening the BBC’s ability to fulfil its public service mission .
Funding Pressures and Planned Job Losses
According to the campaign, the BBC’s funding has fallen by around 30 per cent in real terms since 2010, placing increasing pressure on staff and services.
The unions say BBC management is planning to cut approximately 2,000 jobs—around one in every ten positions—as part of wider cost-saving measures . They warn that the proposed reductions could have serious consequences for programme production, audiences across the UK, and the wider creative economy.
BBC’s Public Service Role
The campaign highlights the BBC’s central role in British public life, noting that the broadcaster reaches around 94 per cent of UK adults each month through its television, radio, and digital services .
Its output includes national and international news, drama, documentaries such as Planet Earth, coverage of the BBC Proms, educational resources including BBC Bitesize, the BBC World Service, and major sporting events .
Unlike commercial broadcasters, the BBC is funded primarily through the television licence fee and carries no advertising across its domestic services. Campaign organisers estimate the licence fee costs households around £3.50 per week.
Economic Contribution
The unions argue that the BBC generates significant economic benefits, contributing an estimated £5 billion annually to the UK economy while supporting the wider creative industries through commissioning, skills development, and employment.
In addition to employing more than 20,000 staff, the broadcaster supports thousands of freelance workers and independent production companies across the UK.
The campaign also stresses the importance of ensuring the BBC continues to reflect the experiences, cultures, and voices of communities throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Charter Renewal Seen as Opportunity for Reform
With negotiations over the BBC’s next Royal Charter already under way ahead of the expiry of the current charter at the end of 2027, the unions say the review presents an opportunity to place the broadcaster on a more secure financial footing .
Among the reforms being proposed are:
- Protecting universal public funding through the licence fee or an equivalent model.
- Increasing worker representation on the BBC Board.
- Reducing political appointments to the Board.
- Strengthening the BBC’s role as a leader in employment standards, pay, and working conditions.
The campaign states: “Public services only work when we invest in them and the people who provide them.”
It also calls on the incoming Director-General to engage directly with employees and urges the Government to provide long-term financial certainty for the corporation.
Public Petition
The unions are encouraging members of the public to sign the petition and support the campaign, arguing that decisions made during the Charter renewal process will shape the future of the UK’s public service broadcaster for years to come.
The campaign forms part of a wider national debate over the future funding, governance, and role of the BBC as it faces increasing financial pressures and rapid changes in the global media landscape.
This report is based on campaign material released by the Broadcasting, Entertainment & Arts Unions (BEAU) and publicly available information relating to the BBC’s Charter renewal process.
