Strike threat dropped at MTV

Plans for a strike at MTV have been shelved in favour of legal challenges to new contracts.

BECTU has warned the music broadcaster that the union will give full support to members at the company who lodge industrial tribunal complaints about new terms and conditions.

The move came after a ballot of members revealed that 75% were in favour of strike action, and 100% supported action short of a strike in protest at new contracts which were imposed without agreement.

After consultation with members, negotiators decided to take the legal route to win recompense for staff who stand to lose money under the new contracts.

Efforts to win union recognition have now been stepped up, with a pledge by BECTU that a formal bid for bargaining rights will be mounted under new legislation which came into force last year.

Under the new law, unions can win automatic recognition in workplaces where they achieve 50% membership, and BECTU is planning to present a case to the Central Arbitration Committee, the government body responsible for implementing the legislation.