BBC braced for strike ballot vote

The BBC is reportedly preparing to offer concessions on its planned pension scheme changes as employees finish voting on strike action.

After opening on August 5, balloting among trade union members over the BBC's proposed cutbacks to its final salary pension scheme comes to a close today.

The BBC's management is facing a major revolt from staff angry at plans to close the final salary scheme to all new employees and cap the benefits of existing members from April next year.

The changes are designed to reduce the corporation's around £2 billion pension deficit, but unions describe the new strategy as "blatant pensions robbery".

Broadcasting unions Bectu and the National Union Of Journalists will receive the results of their strike ballots at 12.30pm today. A meeting with members is scheduled for 2pm, with an announcement to follow at 3.30pm.

According to media reports, the BBC is preparing to offer an olive branch to staff in order to stave off strike action, which could disrupt its coverage of live events such as The Last Night Of The Proms.

A possible option could involve using BBC Television Centre and commercial arm BBC Worldwide as asset backing for an equity bond to reduce the pension deficit.

However, a source close to the strike talks told The Guardian: "That's not going to cut any ice with staff. They are concerned with the issue of protecting past benefits and the protection of what people have earned."

BBC director general Mark Thompson is expected to make a further announcement about the corporation's pension plans after the 90-day consultation period with staff has been completed at the end of September.