ITN strike put on hold

A stoppage at ITN planned for January 28 has been cancelled while staff ballot on new proposals from the company.

BECTU and the NUJ had threatened to call members out after talks on new staff contracts broke down. The company is planning to launch a 24 hour news channel which will involve many staff in night working, and requires a change in existing staff contracts.

Management's initial proposals were rejected by the unions who believed that they would severely damage staff personal and family lives.

Angry meetings of staff led to a strike ballot in which 94% of participants voted in favour of action. The ballot turnout was 71% of union members, giving the unions an unprecedented mandate to press ahead with stoppages.

Two days before the first planned stoppage, union representatives were called to meet ITN's chief executive Stuart Purvis, who tabled new proposals covering payment and scheduling rules for night work, provisions for some staff to opt out of the change, and a two-year pay offer.

A meeting of more than 300 members held shortly after the crisis meeting with Purvis voted to call off the strike on January 27th, in order to run a postal ballot on the new package.

The ballot is due to begin on January 28, and finishes on February 9. Although the negotiating committee is making no recommendation to members, the package is being described by the unions as "the best that can be achieved through negotiation".

If members reject the new proposals, the postponed strike will be called on February 10, the day after the ballot closes.

Details of the new proposals

• Pay

  • Staff who joined before 1990
    3.5% increase from Jan 2000
    RPI+2% increase from Jan 2001
    

  • Staff who joined after 1990
    2.5% increase from Jan 2000
    RPI+2% increase from Jan 2001
    

• Scheduling

  • Limit on working hours 45 per week inc. meals
  • Alternate weekends guaranteed off (29 per year)
  • No more than 5 consecutive turns of duty without day off
  • No more than 20 night turns in a row

• Night payments

  • Night period defined as 2400-0600
  • Up to 3 hours duty during period=£17.50
  • More than 3 hours during period=£30.00
  • Childcare payment of £20 per night turn if actual caring costs are incurred

• Exceptions

  • Severance package for any staff who joined before 1990 and prefer to leave rather than work nights. Package=3 weeks pay for each year of service.
  • Same severance package offered to any staff who joined after 1990 if they do not currently work nights.
  • Opt-outs justified by medical conditions or caring responsibilities to be considered by a management panel. If applications are turned down staff will be given 3 months stay of execution before commencing night work.