Union in standoff over pay at ITN

Discussions at ITN over the company’s proposals to make £300,000 worth of savings from staff benefits could soon be put into dispute.

ITN has proposed cuts in staff terms and conditions which if implemented would represent a significant attack on current benefits.

If the company gets its way, staff would be subsidising output through higher transport costs and a cut in meal allowances; ITN also wants to cut recovery time between periods of night and day working and halve the number of protected weekends causing damage to staff’s work-life balance.

“Newsgathering is an unpredictable job which can make huge demands on staff and their families. It is right that our members should be reasonably compensated for the sacrifices they make and for the flexibility which the company demands. This is not the first time that ITN has tried to cut benefits in these key areas. We will resist the company’s efforts now as we have done in the past.” commented BECTU Supervisory Official David Beevers.

BECTU, which represents staff at ITN together with the NUJ, has also criticised the company for appealing to staff over the heads of the recognised trade unions.

The company has sought the views of staff after several months of talks with officials and last week refused an offer by BECTU and the NUJ for further talks. At a recent meeting of the unions members 96% of staff voted to reject the company’s proposals for savings.