An overwhelming 83.8% of Bectu members in BBC Technology have voted for industrial action, just as the corporation confirmed that Siemens had been selected as the preferred bidder to take ownership of the company.
Members are in dispute over the timetable for the sell-off and future pension and employment terms and conditions for workers.
Bectu has already met with representatives of Siemens in a bid to secure guarantees for the 1,400 staff following the sale. Bectu also claimed the planned 1 September sell-off date was too close for proper negotiations to take place.
Siemens responded saying the company was willing to set up a pension scheme similar to the existing one, but could not agree to long-term guarantees for the staff about any long -term adverse changes.
The company turned down Bectu demands for a three-year guarantee of no change in terms and conditions and staged pay increases of inflation plus 2.5% over the same period.
However, Siemens has promised that there will be no compulsory redundancies at the group for 12 months after the date of sale.
Meanwhile all three staff unions will run consultative ballots among BBC members on a new pay offer. The National Union of Journalists, Bectu and Amicus have decided to put the improved 2.9% offer straight to members, without a recommendation.
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