Impasse in Scottish Media pay talks

Negotiations on new pay and conditions at Scottish and Grampian TV have ground to a halt.

Members at the two ITV companies, both owned by Scottish Media, have rejected a final offer from management, who seem unwilling to reopen discussions.

The vote to reject management's proposals, in a postal ballot of BECTU and NUJ members, came after the company made a last minute improvement to the pay offer as ballot forms were being distributed.

On top of a basic pay offer of 2% from October 1 this year, the company added a promise that next year's increase would be at least as much.

However the revised offer, which included reductions in overtime and premium payments, still failed to win majority support from union members.

BECTU has contacted Scottish Media to notify the company about the ballot outcome, and has suggested that talks should resume in order to narrow the gap between management and workforce.

The company, though, was initially unenthusiastic about unconditionally recovening negotiations, and the unions looked set for possible industrial action.