The decision, made yesterday during a joint meeting of BECTU, the National Union of Journalists, and the Musicians' Union, was taken after the BBC turned down demands for an improved pay offer and refused to drop a plan for cuts in staff and pension rights.
Talks on the 2006 pay claim stalled when the BBC insisted it would stick with a 2.6% pay offer, 0.4% below the current 3% inflation figure.
Threats of compulsory redundancy were also stated as a reason for considering industrial action by the unions. They are now looking to hold a strike ballot just days after the BBC's Annual Report revealed large pay increases for its top executives on the back more than 1,000 jobs being axed as part of a cost-cutting programme.
Director-general Mark Thompson again waived his bonus last year and said he would not take it while enacting large-scale job cuts, but was awarded an 8.7% pay rise on his basic salary, increasing it to £619,000.
However, senior executives such as director of television Jana Bennett and director of radio Jenny Abramsky were awarded substantial pay rises. Bennett's pay was boosted from £334,000 to £353,000, while Abramsky got a rise from £304,000 to £322,000.
As a total, the 10-strong BBC executive board was paid £3.72m.
Formal seven-day notice of strike ballots is due to be sent to the BBC by Wednesday, although the unions have not ruled out further discussions with management while ballot preparations are underway.
Ballot papers are expected to be issued on July 20, with a closing date of August 3. Union representatives are due to meet again on the afternoon of August 3 to consider the ballot outcome.
The BBC cut 1,132 posts in the last year and will cut more than 2,000 over the coming year to achieve its next target of a £112m cost reduction.
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