Bill mentioned in another story about proposed BBC cuts
19/10/2007 00:00 GMT

Posted by lisa

From http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/10/19/furious-bbc-staff-vow-to-call-strike-vote-today-89520-19975806/:


Furious BBC staff vow to call strike vote today

By Nicola Methven, Tv Editor 19/10/2007

Angry broadcast unions have pledged to launch a strike ballot today if BBC bosses ask for voluntary redundancies to cover a £2billion funding shortfall.

The threat follows yesterday's heated management meeting with screen stars including Joanna Lumley, Lord Robert Winston, Bill Oddie and John Humphrys.

Lord Winston complained morale had hit "rock bottom" while Humphrys was unhappy at being "shot down" for trying to protest at the cuts.

But director general Mark Thompson said it had been "positive" meeting, adding: "We've got to make sure we keep as much talent as possible."

Thompson yesterday announced 2,500 job losses and a 10 per cent cut in new programmes, meaning more repeats.

He had planned to send out 3,000 letters today asking for volunteers to quit.

Gerry Morrissey, of union Bectu, said: "He agreed on the principle of retraining and redeployment but that is meaningless if they start calling for volunteers."

Thousands of journalists and technical staff are set to vote on the walkout, which would take live programmes off the air.