BBC to call for voluntary redundancies despite union strike threat

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Oct 19, 2007, 13:29 GMT

BBC Director General Mark Thompson, during a press conference in the West bank town of Ramallah, Thursday, 12 April 2007. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

(M&C) - The BBC is to request volunteers step forward to accept voluntary redundancies despite a union threat to strike if such a move is made.

The announcement comes a day after BBC Director General Mark Thompson told workers of plans to cut 2,500 jobs and sell the Television Centre in London.

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of broadcasting union Bectu, told reporters its members are "feeling extremely angry and believe the BBC is jumping the gun on redundancies before they have even negotiated with us".

Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) also criticised the BBC's lack of consultation.

"That just shows bad faith on the part of the BBC and makes a mockery of anything they might say about consultation and negotiation. If we haven't received the necessary assurances by noon (on Friday) we are ready to start a ballot," he said.

However BBC management has said it would only "spend on redundancy where absolutely necessary. Redeployment is a critical part of the BBC's plans."

The job cuts have been made necessary by a £2 billion funding shortfall.