BBC Technology staff have voted in favour of taking industrial action to show their opposition to the sell-off their department to Siemens.

Bectu union members voted five to one in favour of industrial action. About a quarter of BBC Technology's 1400 staff are Bectu members. The union wants a delay to the sale, a three-year job guarantee for its members and pay increases of inflation plus 2.5 per cent for the same period. The BBC named Siemens as the single preferred bidder on 7 July.

The union said in a statement: "Apart from the operational and financial risks posed by the sell-off, the savings target that led to the privatisation decision could have been achieved in-house, and the union would have agreed to job cuts if required."

BBC management hopes the sell-off, which needs approval from the governors, will be completed by 1 September. The union is expected to decide this week what action to take. ®

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