BBC unions to ballot on strike action over job cuts

Bectu, Amicus and the NUJ have announced plans to ballot BBC members over possible strike action if plans to axe thousands of jobs go ahead.

The unions have requested a three month 'pause' before 4000 jobs are cut, under Director General Mark Thompson's plans to free up more money for programming. They said that this would help protect staff facing the threat of redundancy and allow a full discussion on how the BBC will be able to function after losing nearly 4000 staff members.

The three unions have said they will run a ballot if the demand is rejected. A deadline of April 4 has been set for the BBC to consider the demand.

The unions have also asked for a guarantee that there will be no compulsory redundancies and also asked for protection of pay, conditions and pensions for any staff who are outsourced to new employers.

The unions issued a statement containing the requests, following a representatives meeting in London today. The statement criticised Mr Thompson's plans, calling them "outrageous, politically motivated cuts", which would "fundamentally damage" the BBC.

The plans announced by the Director General are based on a 15% budget reduction in most BBC divisions, the halving of back office jobs in professional services areas and a 60% increase in the use of independent producers.

The plans followed the publication of a government Green Paper on the future of the BBC, which included plans to retain the license fee and replace the BBC governors with a new Trust. The consultation carried out before the Charter was drawn up found that there was a general view that there had been a decline in the quality of the BBC's programming, with a tendency towards 'copycat programming'.

Speakers at today's meeting condemned the job cuts as "savage and brutal" and accused the BBC of "sacrificing" thousands of staff for political, rather than economic purposes.

Gerry Morrissey, Bectu's Assistant General Secretary said: "Mark Thompson is out of touch and has lost the confidence of his staff. If the BBC fails to consult properly and presses ahead with compulsory redundancies and privatisation, the unions will lead their members out of the door."

(KMcA/SP)