Staff unions, including the NUJ, Bectu and Unite, had told the BBC it could avoid coordinated strike action by a total of five unions if it agreed to protect the value of pensions already earned and drop plans to change the staff pension scheme.
But following a statement to Journalism.co.uk yesterday, the BBC told unions today that the 90-day consultation period will go ahead as planned.
The NUJ has confirmed staff will be balloted for industrial action as a result.
"BBC management has shown complete contempt for staff in the face of the clear message from staff attending the series of consultative meetings that have taken place over the past two weeks," the NUJ's broadcasting organiser Sue Harris says in a release. "Those meetings have seen repeated votes - unanimous in almost all cases - calling on the staff unions to ballot for industrial action should the BBC continue to pursue its plans for a blatant pensions robbery."
"Staff across the country are already incensed at the proposals and will be even more furious now, particularly given the revelation this week that BBC deputy director general Mark Byford trousers a staggering £400,000 a year in pension payments. It's hypocrisy, pure and simple," she added.
The BBC's pension proposals include closing their final salary scheme to newcomers and capping the growth of pensionable salaries of existing members to one per cent.
The BBC told Journalism.co.uk that it believe they are making the right decision.
"We continue to believe that the proposals we are making will deliver a pension scheme that is sustainable, affordable and flexible for BBC staff and the licence fee payer," a spokesperson said. "We know that staff have concerns about the proposed changes but we will continue to listen and try to address these during the 90-day consultation period."
The broadcaster says it will hold more than 120 face to face sessions with staff via senior managers during the consultation period, and are also planning a live phone in and TV programme for staff to get their concerns heard.
The NUJ, Bectu and Unite say they will continue to meet with BBC managers during the statutory consultation period, with the intention of "convincing the BBC to withdraw its current proposals and start meaningful dialogue".
NUJ deputy general secretary Michelle Stanistreet added that the union still hopes to still find alternative ways of bridging the pensions deficit.
"We're obviously disappointed, but not entirely surprised, that the BBC is taking such a hard line over this issue," she said in a release.
"Without question, the government is paying extremely close attention to the development of this dispute, given their plans for wholesale pensions reform across the public sector. The NUJ will do everything possible to defend the hard-earned pension rights of BBC staff."
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