The BBC is facing the prospect of further industrial action after the corporation's three main unions said they would ballot members for strike action over job losses and increased workload resulting from cost-cutting measures.
Broadcasting unions Bectu and Unite are to ask their BBC members to vote for strike action, while the NUJ is reballoting its members, following a walkout by journalists earlier this month that took flagship news programmes including Radio 4's Today off air.
Formal notice of the ballot was given to the BBC on Tuesday and voting slips will be mailed out to members on 6 March with a closing date of 20 March, raising the prospect of further disruption to the corporation's schedules.
The industrial action is in protest at the Delivering Quality First cost-cutting measures introduced in response to the BBC's licence fee settlement in 2010.
Gerry Morrissey, the Bectu general secretary, said BBC executives were to blame for the "low morale and insecurity" among corporation staff.
"We would prefer to have a sensible conversation with BBC management about the damage done in the first year of these cuts, but instead we've had to turn up the pressure to protect thousands of members from overwork, bullying and stress," he added.
"Blame for low morale and insecurity in BBC workplaces rests firmly on the shoulders of managers who signed up to a six-year freeze in the licence fee in 2010. By committing to maintain levels of output despite a drastic reduction in real funding, they turned the BBC from a world-class broadcaster into Mission Impossible."
Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ general secretary, said: "The NUJ's recent strike demonstrated the level of concern and anger amongst journalists about the effect of cuts at the BBC. It was disappointing that the BBC failed to properly negotiate and avert the action, but we're not prepared to sit back while our members suffer because of shortsighted policies by BBC executives.
"We won't tolerate compulsory redundancies while other vacancies are advertised, and we won't allow our members' health to suffer because of unacceptable workloads and avoidable stress."
A BBC spokesperson said: "We're surprised that the NUJ and Bectu have chosen to ballot their members over a number of new issues without formally meeting with us first to discuss them. We will be meeting with the unions next week and hope to reach a resolution, as we have said we have significant savings targets to meet and strike action will not alter this."
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