Industrial action looms at GMG

Four ITV stations owned by Granada could face industrial action in February, after a breakdown in talks over this year's pay claim.

Granada Media Group (GMG) management angered the unions in early December by attempting to coerce staff into accepting a 2-year pay deal fixed at 0.5% above inflation, after it was rejected in a ballot of union members.

Staff working for Granada, TyneTees, Yorkshire and LWT received letters at home inviting them to sign up individually to receive the increase from January 1999 onwards.

This move came after local negotiating meetings held with all four companies had revealed that management were not yet prepared to make a better offer. The current proposal is worth 3.6% for 1999, well short of the original union claim for 11%.

In the run-up to Christmas, the union is planning meetings of members at all four companies, where plans for an industrial action ballot starting in January are expected to be approved.

Feelings over Granada's pay policy have been running high this year, after GMG announced a 26% increase in profits. The group's top executives have treated themselves to bumper pay rises - CEO Gerry Robinson saw his pay rise by 33% to £968,000 a year. His Human Resource Head, Stephanie Monk enjoyed a 29% increase, taking her salary to £245,000 - a rise that is not thought to be linked to her outside activities as a member of the Government's Low Pay Commission.

If members vote for industrial action, the impact will be felt across the ITV network, and by the newly-launched ITV2 channel.