BBC to send redundancy notices next month

The BBC is to commence sending redundancy notices to staff on November 5 instead of next week.

The announcement came after BECTU, the National Union of Journalists and Unite said they would consider balloting for strike action as early as today unless the BBC agreed to reconsider elements of its job cutting plan.

In a statement, the BBC said: "The BBC is committed to working closely with the unions in the best interest of staff. We have written to the unions today to invite them to continue the dialogue we opened yesterday so that they participate fully in the implementation of the BBC's six-year plan.

"We are very conscious that the overwhelming feedback from staff is that any period of uncertainty must be kept to an absolute minimum. Staff are most keen to understand their own futures and we believe delay will cause unnecessary stress.

"We have advised the unions that the BBC is committed to writing to relevant staff on 5 November inviting expressions of interest from staff regarding voluntary redundancy."

Officials from the three unions welcomed the decision to hold off sending the notices.

In a statement, NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dean said: "We are pleased the BBC have stepped back from the brink and agreed to union calls for meaningful talks to take place at a national level. Such a framework will provide the unions with the opportunity to make clear our ongoing concern at the implications for quality broadcasting of the BBC’s plans to cut jobs and for proper negotiations over Mark Thompson's proposals to take place."