GMG pay dispute hots up

Granada Media Group (GMG) have failed to improve their pay offer against the backgroud of increased profits and reduced franchise payments.

Despite announcing increased profits, and having their franchise payments to the Treasury reduced by the ITC, GMG have failed to improve their pay offer to the joint staff unions (BECTU, NUJ, AEEU). The company have offered a two year deal of RPI + 0.5% for January 1999 and January 2000. The joint union claim is 9%.

Stage Two disputes have now been lodged at Granada Manchester, Liverpool, Yorkshire TV, Tyne-Tees TV and LWT (London Weekend Television).

If no agreement is reached at the Stage Two meetings, then the final stage is a meeting between the unions' shop officials and the ITV Association.

If no agreement can be reached, ballot papers are likely to be distributed in late January.