ITV plc could face industrial action in the New Year if efforts to resolve a dispute over pay are not successful when management and union representatives meet in London this Thursday 15 December

15 December 2005
 
The joint ITV Unions, Amicus, BECTU and the NUJ submitted a claim for a substantial increase above inflation in September. The claim also underlined the opposition of the joint unions to the company's use of one-off bonuses in the annual review.  "Our view is that all available funds should be directed towards an above inflation consolidated pay increase for your staff" the joint unions wrote.
 
The company responded to the claim at the end of last month with a consolidated offer of just 2.5%, the current rate of inflation. The company also announced its intention to pay staff a taxable bonus for 2005 of £600 next April. The company also plans to pay a bonus for 2006, in 2007, but details of the scheme remain sketchy.
 
Joint union members, who work at sites across the country, and who produce the most commercially successful programmes on UK television, are determined that the increase for 2006 should be above inflation to address real increases in costs.
 
In September the company published its half yearly financial report emphasising the success of the company in improving efficiency and in cutting costs. The full merger savings of £120 million have been exceeded, licence fees payable to the treasury have been slashed by £135 million (these are due to reduce to £4m by the time digital switchover is complete) and profits before tax for the 6 month period were up by 60% at £205 million.
 
ITV improved its offer to staff when hit by strikes in April this year over another low pay offer which disrupted filming schedules and cancelled the broadcast of live programmes.
Commenting on the dispute Sharon Elliott for BECTU stated: "The company is not justified in once again making an inflation only consolidated offer; the company continues to exceed its savings targets and our members, who contribute so much to the company's success, deserve to share in that."
 
For the NUJ, national broadcasting organiser Paul McLaughlin said: "For far too long members have been fobbed-off with below or just on inflation pay offers; they deserve a proper increase and have stated they are prepared to take action to achieve it."
 
Amicus official Mike Smallwood said: "Yet again our members are being insulted with an inflation linked pay offer when they have earned the company record profits. The impact their strike made earlier this year demonstrates what a vital job they do and how strongly they feel about being rewarded properly for their work."