The National Union of Journalists is asking thousands of BBC journalists to vote this week on whether to take strike action.
It's over the plight of around 100 BBC journalists – including some at the World Service – who are threatened with compulsory redundancy.
The NUJ says it will ballot members after the BBC 'refused to consider further moves to secure redeployment or find alternative opportunities' for the staff affected – who work in BBC Monitoring, Online and in Scotland and Wales as well as at the World Service.
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: "For months we have been negotiating with the BBC and have been able to resolve most cases by agreement. But the BBC’s refusal to consider workable alternatives for around 100 staff has left us with no choice but to ballot members for industrial action to defend jobs and services. There is no justification for these compulsory redundancies."
A BBC spokesperson said: "We remain committed to discussions with unions and do not believe that industrial action is necessary."