Please note: the union ballot was of UK nationals who are members of BECTU, NUJ and AMICUS.

The current strike period is likely to be difficult for the BBC and for many people. Everyone here, whether joining in strike action or not, takes the BBC's responsibility to deliver quality output to our audiences and customers very seriously.

The decision whether to cross a picket line and work normally on strike days may be a worry and a difficult decision for many people and of course everyone needs to be able to work harmoniously together after the dispute is over.

If you are worried about coming to work on strike days, here are some things to bear in mind:

• Everyone has the right to cross a picket line. A picket does not have the right to require people to stop; to compel them to listen; or to insist they take any literature. Anything which goes beyond this may be a criminal offence.
• Those union members called out to strike by their union (BECTU, NUJ, AMICUS) can lawfully picket at or near their normal place of work, provided the purpose is only peacefully to communicate or persuade others not to work. Words or behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress should not be used.
• As the BBC does not necessarily know which people are members of a union, anyone who is absent from work on a strike day without approval will be deemed to be 'on strike' and pay will be deducted for the hours lost. The same approach applies to freelancers, casuals and contractors.
• It's also the BBC's policy that everyone working from home, having medical appointments and or on annual leave on a strike day must have had this agreed in advance, or pay deductions will be made for the period of absence as the BBC will assume that any unapproved non-attendance is in support of the strike.
• Out of a total workforce of some 25,500 (excluding BBC Worldwide) 4,273 have voted to take strike action. Not everyone belongs to a union and not all union members have voted to strike, but by threatening the BBC's output the joint unions put at risk the BBC's reputation with the public which is not in anyone's interest.
• Industrial action does not remove the need for further consultation or the need for the BBC to implement changes which reflect new technology, audience expectations and the need to find re-investment which funds our programme and service aspirations.
• It is the joint unions who have declared that the 'procedure is exhausted', our approach remains unchanged - we want to continue to consult in line with our established union agreements (the'Agreed Statements') and to achieve as many of the job losses as possible through voluntary means.

If you are at all worried about coming to work, please talk with your manager in the first instance, or an HR Partner. BBC management is going to do everything it can to support people who want to work normally on strike days. And at the end of the day we're all here to create great output in the best interests of our audiences and customers.

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