The NUJ says it condemns the BBC's senior managers, who were reported by the national press to be "topping-up" their pensions from a multi-million pound fund while other members of staff are being asked to accept pension freezes and cuts.
But the BBC say the reported funds are "contractual arrangements" which have actually been declining in real terms.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the BBC's annual report shows that director general of the BBC, Mark Thompson's £838,000 salary included a £163,000 pension "top-up".
The NUJ say these "top ups" were introduced after the government imposed a pensions cap in 1989 and were made available to some staff who earned more than the cap.
The union's general secretary Jeremy Dear said staff will be outraged.
"These underhand arrangements are an absolute disgrace," he said in a release. "NUJ members at the BBC will be sickened by the spectacle of the senior management team preaching restraint and attacking the pension arrangements of it's near 20,000 strong workforce, while filling their pension pots to overflowing.
"It's almost as if BBC management are trying to goad staff, with their blatant hypocrisy and greed. Before their slush fund was exposed, staff at the BBC were already outraged at management's pension proposals. Since they've been exposed, we've been bombarded by calls from furious staff, urging us to do everything necessary to defend their pensions. I'm urging all staff at the BBC to vote 'yes' in the forthcoming ballot for action to defeat these proposals".
The BBC told Journalism.co.uk it is currently reviewing pension provisions for senior managers.
"These are contractual arrangements which have long been published in our Annual Report and Accounts, and have been declining in real terms," a spokesperson said.
"In addition to the changes to the pension scheme that the BBC is proposing we are also reviewing all aspects of Pension provision including that for senior managers. We will announce these together with any other changes to the proposals after the consultation closes."
But general secretary of BECTU, Gerry Morrissey said the BBC had shown "double standards".
"Prior to this revelation the anger amongst staff was unprecedented; staff will now rightly accuse their senior managers of double standards," he said in a release. "Behaviour like this is bringing the BBC into disrepute. Whilst many hard working BBC staff are being asked to accept a pay freeze and a cut in their pensions the culture of greed carries on at the top."
Meanwhile this week BBC unions are starting the process for a strike ballot, set to be underway from 5 August, with a result planned for 1 September.
BECTU said if industrial action is backed by staff, the unions will be considering targeting big national events, including The Last Night of the Proms, the party conference season and sporting fixtures.
Image courtesy of Ell Brown on Flickr
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