Broadcasting: BBC staff to be balloted in row over pensions

The Corporation had been given a deadline of yesterday to withdraw controversial plans for a 1 per cent cap on pensionable pay, irrespective of future pay rises or promotions, or face the threat of strikes in September.

Sue Harris, of the National Union of Journalists, said: "BBC management have 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.

"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."

NUJ and Bectu officials said the changes could cost younger members of staff hundreds of thousands of pounds during their retirement years.

The dispute flared after the BBC announced plans to cap pensionable pay at 1 per cent from April 2011 and revalue pensions at a lower level.