BBC officials meet unions to avert strike

The British Broadcasting Corp. will meet with union leaders, forestalling a strike vote Friday by workers angry over job and programming cuts. BBC management said it would not make any job cuts for at least two weeks.

The National Union of Journalists, the broadcasting workers union and the manufacturing union voiced their displeasure after BBC Director-General Mark Thompson told staff Thursday that 2,500 jobs would be cut over six years to make up a $4-billion funding shortfall. He said about 700 new jobs would be created over the same period.

Thompson announced the job cuts as part of a plan to radically overhaul the media giant, which employs 23,000 workers, for the digital age. As part of the six-year plan, the BBC would merge its radio, television and Internet newsrooms, sell part of its property portfolio and reduce its number of programs.