Strike decision at ITN

Staff at ITN could be balloted for strike action after reoganisation talks broke down.

Members of BECTU and the NUJ working for Independent Television News are due to consider the call for strike action at a mass meeeting on 15 December.

Union negotiators will be recommending a ballot as the only effective way of winning concessions from ITN management over plans for new working conditions at the company.

If members support the call for a ballot, the first industrial action could be timed for mid-January 2000.

Talks on new terms and conditions for staff at the London-based ITV news supplier broke down at ACAS on 13 December after two days of conciliation failed to bridge the gap between unions and management.

ITN managers want staff to accept new flexible contracts to enable the company to launch a 24 hour news channel and expand into new media, including the Internet.

Union representatives have supported the company's expansion, but say that family life for staff could be wrecked by the proposed new contracts, which demand fully flexible scheduling over day and night.

Efforts to tone down the company's proposals have failed however, and the unions are likely to give formal notice of a strike ballot to ITN before Christmas.

Under UK labour laws unions are obliged to give 7 days notice of a strike ballot, followed by a further 7 days warning of any action once the ballot closes.