Strike threatened at BBC

BECTU, NUJ and Amicus members at the BBC have voted for industrial action in protest at planned job cuts.

77.6% of BECTU voters in the main BBC voted to strike: out of 2457 votes, 1907 were cast in favour of industrial action, with only 549 members voting against. 199 votes were cast at BBC Broadcast; of those, 175 were in favour of industrial action. In BBC Resources, there were 413 votes in total - 357 in favour of a strike.

2159 votes were cast by NUJ members, with 1810 in favour of industrial action and 348 against. Results from Amicus are not yet available.

Of the votes cast, the plurality in favour of industrial action was overwhelming. However, turnout figures were somewhat low: only 49.4% of BECTU members in the main BBC voted; in BBC Broadcast, 54.5% of members voted; and in BBC Resources, 56.1% of members voted. The NUJ's turnout figure was higher, with 64.2% of that union's members voting.

"This is a clear signal to Mark Thompson that he is going too far, too fast, in his plans for changes," said Luke Crawley of BECTU. "We've got an overwhelming mandate for strike action, proving that the Director General is badly out of touch with his staff."

The three unions will meet later today (Thursday) to decide on the next steps to be taken.