Strike action across Granada

Union members at all four Granada Media Group ITV companies have taken strike action in protest at their pay offer.

The stoppage, which took place 1200 to 1400 on Friday 26 February, will be followed by continuous industrial action centred on a mandatory 12 hour break between turns of duty. This action will disrupt schedules and impact on programme production across the Granada Media Group.

Members of BECTU, AEEU and NUJ are protesting at the company's 3.6 per cent offer to staff which follows a 21% increase in Media Groups profits to £255million and senior executives receiving average rises of 14% and lucrative share options.

Commented BECTU's Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrisey: "Staff at the Granada Media Group are appalled at the way the company has approached this year's talk on pay. The success of the company justifies an improved award to the staff who contribute so much to that success; so far the company has only seen fit to reward its senior executives.

"The company's refusal to attend talks at ACAS has only made staff more determined to achieve a just settlement. Our hope is that the company will see sense and avoid a damaging dispute by agreeing to return to negotiations."