BBC postpones redundancy letters

The BBC has postponed plans to send out redundancy letters after the broadcasting unions threatened to ballot on strike action.

Letters asking staff to consider taking voluntary redundancy were due to be posted yesterday. But in a conciliatory gesture, the BBC agreed not to send letters out until 5 November.

In their response to the director-general Mark Thompson's "six-year plan" – which will involve axing 2,500 posts and making 1,800 people redundant – the broadcasting union Bectu and the National Union of Journalists called on BBC management to withdraw its plans to send out letters seeking redundancies, giving a deadline of midday yesterday.

In a statement, the BBC said: "The BBC is committed to working closely with the unions in the best interest of staff. We have written to the unions today to invite them to continue the dialogue we opened yesterday so that they participate fully in the implementation of the BBC's six-year plan.

"We are very conscious that the overwhelming feedback from staff is that any period of uncertainty must be kept to an absolute minimum. Staff are most keen to understand their own futures and we believe delay will cause unnecessary stress. We have advised the unions that the BBC is committed to writing to relevant staff on 5 November inviting expressions of interest from staff regarding voluntary redundancy."

The NUJ general secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: "We are pleased the BBC have agreed to union calls for meaningful talks to take place at a national level. Such a framework will provide the unions with the opportunity to make clear our ongoing concern at the implications for quality broadcasting of the BBC's plans to cut jobs."

On Thursday, Mr Thompson unveiled a programme of wide-ranging cuts aimed at making 3 per cent annual savings.

Rumours that staff would be asked to write a 200-word letter on why they think they should keep their jobs was dismissed as "spin" by Helen Boaden, director of news, which is facing 370 redundancies.

But she admitted: "You will, though, have the opportunity to write about yourself – the equivalent of being asked at the end of a job interview if there's anything you'd like to add. It won't be compulsory and it won't clinch the outcome."

In addition to 2,500 posts which are being closed, 700 new jobs will be created by the changes. But the unions are concerned that if the redundancy process moves quickly, staff will not have time to apply for new jobs that come up.