BBC staff ballot for strike over 'stress' Unions said they are gearing up for the potential industrial action in a row over jobs, workload and rising levels of stress as a result of jobs and spending cuts. Several thousand BBC employees have already backed a National Union of Journalists protest over cuts at the corporation. Its members, and members of the Bectu broadcasting union will vote on whether to launch a joint strike. "We've had to turn up the pressure to protect thousands of members from over-work, bullying, and stress," said Gerry Morrissey, Bectu's General Secretary. The BBC seems to believe that staff can continue supporting the full range of services despite a 20pc reduction in resources, and massive job cuts. The BBC's "Delivering Quality First" cost-cutting drive will see the corporation cut 2,000 jobs in five years. It will also axe considerable amounts of programming, but unions claim that remaining staff are still being asked to do more work than before. This is making life difficult for staff, Bectu said. According to a recent survey by the union, harassment and bullying have become a major issue at the corporation, and there has been an increase in the number of disciplinary cases where staff are accused of poor performance because they are "overstretched." Blame for low morale and insecurity in BBC workplaces rests firmly on the shoulders of managers. They turned the BBC from a world-class broadcaster into Mission Impossible," Mr Morrissey added. Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ's general secretary, added that it wouldn't "allow our members" health to suffer because of unacceptable workloads and avoidable stress. Our members care because they can see that the quality of journalism will suffer as staff numbers are squeezed. Bectu's ballot for industrial action is set to close on 20 March. The move follows a 24-hour strike last week, held by NUJ members, in protest at compulsory redundancies have been handled at the BBC. Radio 4"s flagship Today programme was delayed by the action, as picket lines were mounted outside BBC studios and offices across the UK. The last nationwide strikes by BBC staff were in 2011, in protest to compulsory redundancies in units including the BBC World Service. The BBC did not respond by the time of publication.