Thousands of journalists, technical staff and other workers at the BBC are to be balloted for strikes in a row over pay.
Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bectu and Unite will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.
The unions’ pay claim was for RPI inflation plus 3%, with the BBC offering a flat-rate rise of £650.
Officials argued that as well as a below-inflation offer, the corporation was planning cuts to anti-social hours payments and redundancy terms. The ballot will open on Friday and close on July 4.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “We have had some constructive talks with Tony Hall, BBC director general, over compulsory redundancies and bullying, and established joint reviews to tackle the clear problems that have resulted as the poor implementation of the Delivering Quality First package of cuts.
“But it is quite frankly insulting that members are being offered such a paltry sum when the BBC always seems to be able to find cash for executive pay and can write off almost £100 million from its disastrous Digital Media Initiative.
“Our members care about quality journalism and quality programming and this cannot be done on the cheap if the BBC wants to keep and attract talent.
“It is clear that the BBC want to introduce a two-tier workforce and we know that it will be long-serving staff on better terms and conditions that will be first to be picked off in future waves of cuts.”
Sue Harris, NUJ broadcasting national organiser, said: “At a time when the BBC is intent on making 2,000 job losses as part of its cuts programme, it is also trying to cut redundancy terms and consultation time. If the BBC is genuinely committed to redeployment, it should withdraw these proposals.”
A BBC spokesman said: “It is disappointing that the unions are considering strike action over pay when we have made an offer to staff which means that the majority of those eligible will receive an increase of 2% or more.
“We understand that the economic climate is tough for staff but this is what we can afford given the savings we must make.”