Journalists at Reuters launched formal strike procedures on Monday because of growing fears their jobs could be lost through continued outsourcing to India.
Plans to cut editorial staff under the agency's Fast Forward Strategy means journalists will hold an official strike ballot in January.
The move is a step forward from the NUJ reading earlier this month, which showed a strong majority of London-based professionals are willing to strike.
If action is decided upon, managers at Reuters could face a suspension of the real-time news network, used by City analysts and businesses.
Barry Fitzpatrick, of the National Union of Journalists, said they want to invite management to a meeting where they can review their position to cut 3,000 jobs by 2006.
He said if there was a no-decision outcome, a formal ballot would be held by Reuters journalists around the new year.
Speaking to Freelance UK, Mr Fitzpatrick said the outsourcing of media positions was a poor reward for UK staff whose professionalism over the years has created the brand that is Reuters.
"The NUJ is concerned about Reuters trading UK jobs with employment rights and union negotiated terms and conditions for outsourced positions.
"These are unlikely to compare even on minimum standards such as health and safety and working hours," he said.
Journalists have meanwhile been told that the projected figure of 250 job losses is totally speculative, despite ongoing fears from the capital's workers.
As a result, a meeting between staff and Unions on Monday sealed the path for strike action, while Reuters maintained it would not change the proposed figure.
One employee said the vote to strike, scheduled for January, would more than likely turn into a unanimous walkout with Reuters London effectively shutdown.
"We expect to win the ballot and the whole of London editorial will be paralysed during one-day walkouts," he said.
Already the news agency has cut editorial jobs from London and American offices, by transferring them to Bangalore, Toronto and Singapore.
In particular, ten jobs have been plucked from Wall Street, as part of a gradual build up of remote correspondents across the Indian subcontinent.
The NUJ said: "Cost cutting when it affects the integrity of the news and sports services soon translates into damaging consequences for the competitive edge that Reuters has in the market. We do intend to resist this proposal, which we believe is bad for our members and bad for Reuters."
Meanwhile, Reuters has announced its US share system business, known as Instinet, is one-step closer to a forthcoming sale.
In a statement the company said "strategic alternatives," were being considered but no action had been determined from management or Instinet.
The possible sale coincides with the troubled News2Web system at Reuters, which has recently been delayed at an estimated cost of £30m.
Nov 25, 2004
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