A Lesson for Chris Moyles

My heart bleeds for Chris Moyles. It really does. In a rant against the BBC on his Radio 1 breakfast show yesterday morning, he attacked his bosses for not paying him since July. Among many other things, he said "I am so angry that they've put me in this position where now I have to choose whether or not I go to work."

Being paid your wage regularly and on time is still, incredibly, something that has to be struggled over in *this country*, never mind elsewhere. So despite the obscene amount of money Moyles commands (or rather, doesn't), trade unionists and socialists would instinctively sympathise with his predicament. But then again there might be a certain reluctance to support him when we recall this from May 2005:

The BBC's flagship Today radio programme fell victim to a 24-hour strike by thousands of journalists and technicians today.

A 24-hour strike by BBC workers brought disruption to TV and radio schedules today.

The BBC's flagship Today radio programme was the most high-profile victim of the industrial action.

Picket lines have been mounted outside Bush House in central London, TV Centre in White City, and Broadcasting House.

Thousands of journalists and technicians are taking part in the stoppage in protest at plans to axe BBC 4,000 jobs.

As well as Radio 4's Today programme, BBC1's Breakfast, BBC News 24 and BBC World have also been affected by the strike.

... Some stars of BBC radio, such as Radio 1 Breakfast Show presenter Chris Moyles and Radio 2's Terry Wogan, did break the picket line and went to work as normal.

Oh dear.

Perhaps if Moyles had backed the union then they would be backing him now. There's a lesson there for anyone prepared to do the indecent thing and scab on a strike.