No more talks about pensions, says Thompson

BBC journalists have been told by the corporation's director-general, Mark Thompson, that he will not re-open talks in a pensions row despite the threat of more strikes, including walkouts over Christmas and the new year.

In an email to staff, Mr Thompson said the BBC had reached its "final position" and would not after new pension arrangements which have been accepted by four of the five unions representing BBC staff. Television and radio broadcasts were disrupted on Friday and Saturday when members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) went on strike. Another 48-hour strike is planned for Monday and Tuesday.

The NUJ has warned that Christmas and new year schedules could be disrupted unless there is a breakthrough.

But Mr Thompson said: "We cannot and will not enter fresh negotiations or contemplate fresh changes to the agreed offer on pension reform, no matter how much industrial action there is from the NUJ."