BBC staff fear strike action inevitable after 1% pay rise offer prompts anger

Unions reject proposed below-inflation increase which comes as corporation prepares to cut thousands of jobs

BBC staff fear a strike is on the horizon at the broadcaster after anger over a below-inflation pay rise offer made amid plans to cut thousands of jobs.

There is widespread consternation among staff at the offer of a 1% increase, seen as derisory given that inflation is running at almost three times that level. It also comes with staff across the BBC worried about their jobs, as the corporation is in the process of rolling out cuts and redundancies that could result in as many as 2,000 people leaving over the next three years.