BBC staff in pension strike ballot

Thousands of BBC staff, including journalists and technicians, are to be balloted for industrial action in a row over pensions, unions announced yesterday.

Union officials said the planned pension 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, which unions said in effect devalued pensions already earned.