NUJ hits back at BBC director general after he tells unhappy staff to leave
The National Union of Journalists has hit back at comments made by BBC director general Mark Thompson, who said that unhappy employees should simply leave.
During a meeting last week in Belfast, Thompson, who recently announced 2,000 job losses at the corporation in the coming years due to the freeze on the licence fee, said: "If you're really that unhappy, if you think that you can't do your best work here then leave - no-one is forcing you to stay."
In reaction to this, Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary said: “Mark Thompson showed his complete and utter contempt for his staff today. It shows just how little he values all the hardworking loyal and talented staff who are the lifeblood of the BBC’s work. It’s BBC staff who are standing up for quality journalism and for the future of the Corporation they are passionate about serving. For Mark Thompson to turn his ire on our members, at a time when the BBC is under unprecedented attack and needs strong leadership, calls into question his own position. Perhaps it’s about time he moved on – after all, no-one’s forcing him to stay.”