LWT industrial action starts

Strike action at London Weekend Television (LWT) has been carried out in protest at the imposition of an effective pay cut.

The one hour stoppage at LWT on 13 July follows the introduction of ongoing industrial action the day before. BECTU members at the company have agreed to institute strict controls on time off from 12 July.

In January the Granada Media Group (GMG), of which LWT is a part, imposed a below-inflation 3% award, despite the fact that BECTU had been asking for talks on pay since November 1997. Members were angered not only by the imposition of an effective pay cut, but also by the contrast with Granada Directors' behaviour in treating themselves to pay rises of between 26% and 45%.

Throughout, BECTU has worked closely with colleagues in the AEEU electricians' union. Together the unions have gone through the internal disputes procedure, and given the company every opportunity to come up with an acceptable proposal. So far it has failed to do so.

Ballots of BECTU members have given the union a 93% mandate for industrial action short of a strike, and 58% in favour of strike action. The AEEU has also won majorities for industrial action from its own members.

Meanwhile the joint unions are pushing for proper negotiations with GMG at group level, which is where the key decisions are clearly being made. At a meeting in Manchester on 9 July, Branch officers and full time officials from LWT, Granada TV, Yorkshire TV and Tyne Tees TV agreed to lodge a joint claim with GMG. Details are being finalised at the time of writing.

Back at LWT, attention is now focussing on possible action around 31 July, when the company will be celebrating 30 years on the air and hosting a high-profile "Talent Challenge" event.

LWT is the UK ITV (Channel 3) weekend contractor company for London and the South East.