Bombshell hits the BBC

Its been the longest day for staff at the BBC and the shadows cast by the announcement of 2,500 job cuts stretch blackly into the future. Alongside the job cuts Mark Thompson revealed the intention to trawl for volunteers for redundancy before holding any consultation with the recognised unions.

In doing so, the BBC is in clear breach of employment law and existing union agreements.

Reps from across the corporation packed out a meeting this lunchtime and drew clear lines in the sand which the BBC can only wilfully cross. The joint unions have sent a letter to the corporation seeking an assurance by noon tomorrow that no trawl for voluntary redundancies will begin until a proper national framework for discussion with the unions is in place. If this assurance is not given the unions will immediately begin a ballot for industrial action. The letter also demands that the BBC commits to doing a risk assessment of each area affected including a stress assessment before implementing any redundancies.

The BBC must honour its agreements otherwise there is no option but to take action.