Mark Thompson is set to announce plans next week to cut over 2000 news jobs at the corporation, according to reports. The job cuts are part of his plans to plug a £2 billion shortfall caused by a below inflation licence fee settlement to the BBC Trust.
Staff are threatening to hold a 72 hour strike next week – in a bid to curb some of the job cuts. Programmes including Radio 4's Today programme could be hit the worst. The cuts are to be finalised next week but a leaked document today suggests approx 2600 jobs could be lost.
The National Union of Journalists and broadcast union BECTU will deliver their message to BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons in person at 3pm today.