Industrial action continues at LWT

Industrial action at London Weekend Television (LWT) is continuing following the successful 13 July strike.

The one-hour stoppage on 13 July in pursuit of BECTU's pay claim at LWT, and the ongoing action - in which members insist on taking proper entitlement to time off - is also having a clear impact in forcing the company to take extra care with its rostering and scheduling.

The current industrial action is about the 1998 pay award. But the union is also looking forward to 1999.

The decision on pay in 1998 was not made by local LWT management, but by Granada Media Group (GMG) management. BECTU and the AEEU have therefore submitted a joint 1999 claim to GMG covering pay, leave, staff status, and redundancy terms.

31 July is a big day at LWT. It is the day when the company celebrates its 30th birthday. It is is also the day when the high-profile "Talent Challenge" event is recorded in Studio 1.

Despite reports to the contrary - including press reports - BECTU is not calling for strike action on 31 July. The union does not intend to disrupt "Talent Challenge" which is a big day for young people and community groups across London. BECTU does not intend to disrupt a well-deserved celebration of LWT's success.

However, the union does believe that this should be a celebration of LWT, and the work of LWT's staff over the years. It should not a celebration of the GMG piggy-backing on LWT's reputation.

BECTU is urging members to turn the event into a celebration of the creative, technical and production skills of the people who have made LWT a success over the years; and of 30 years of trade union hard graft to protect pay, conditions, skills and standards. Hard graft that is still going on today, as the union continues with industrial action over the pay dispute.