BBC journalists to begin strike ballot over job cuts this week

BBC journalists will begin a strike ballot on Friday following the threat of compulsory redundancies across the corporation.

The National Union of Journalists confirmed this morning that all union members at the broadcaster will be balloted, with the results expected in a month's time.

NUJ general secretary-elect Michelle Stanistreet said in a statement: "We have worked hard to try to resolve job losses at the corporation however we have reached a point where the BBC is targeting our members for compulsory redundancy.

"We will continue at local and national level to do everything we can to resolve the outstanding cases. We must be ready to take action to defend the jobs of journalists and to protect the vital public services they provide."

According to the NUJ, more than 100 people are now at risk of compulsory redundancy at the BBC World Service and union members are at risk in BBC Monitoring, BBC Scotland, and potentially at BBC Wales, BBC 4, BBC Sport and TV Current Affairs.

The ballot was first announced by the NUJ at the end of April but was delayed.

A BBC News spokesperson said: “We believe that industrial action is not necessary and that dialogue is the best way to resolve this issue.”

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said on Sunday that protecting the World Service was a priority for the corporation, and indicated that one of the BBC's digital channels BBC3 or BBC4 may be scrapped in an effort to save funds.

The World Service is currently facing a 16 per cent funding cut over the next four years, as set out in last year's government spending review.

An agreement struck between the BBC and the coalition government will see the broadcaster take over the funding of the World Service from the foreign office in 2014.

It was announced in January that the proposed budget cuts would result in the loss of around 650 jobs at the service and the loss more than 30 million listeners.

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