Journalists at BBC News could go on strike within seven days if the corporation goes ahead with threatened compulsory redundancies according to the NUJ's broadcasting organiser Paul McLaughlin.
The corporation announced yesterday that by the end of March next year it is set to make 108 jobs redundant in the news division as part of director general Mark Thompson's three-year programme to cut £11 million from the budget. The BBC has said it cannot rule out compulsory redundancies.
McLaughlin told Press Gazette: "The NUJ has an overwhelming mandate for strike action over any compulsory redundancies to table further action if necessary – we do not need any further ballots from members.The threat hanging over these cuts is no more than seven days away.
"The NUJ has managed to avoid any compulsory redundancy for members in this entire exercise and that's what we will be intent on maintaining. The threat is there but it is balanced by the progress we've been making."
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