ITV strike halts production
Initial reports from picket lines outside ITV studios indicate that efforts to carry on with production have been abandoned.
The strike, aimed at restarting talks over this year's pay claim, has shut down today's recordings of Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Heartbeat, and one of ITV's main production centres on London's Southbank is at a standstill.
Pickets outside Granada Manchester today |
Union officials from BECTU and Amicus praised members for their solidarity and determination as the 36-hour stoppage began to bite at 0700 this morning (April 8).
Another strike is scheduled for next weekend (April 15/16) unless ITV management agree to meet union negotiators and present a better pay offer than the 3.3% rise that was overwhelmingly rejected by members in a postal ballot.
More members in other parts of ITV are due to show their support for the action with walkouts at noon today.
Most of the productions affected so far by strike action are recorded well in advance, so episodes will be screened as usual next week. However, union officials predict that if another strike goes ahead next weekend, the number of episodes in hand will be dangerously low.
Two live programmes, originally planned to transmit on Saturday from ITV's Southbank studios, have also been disrupted by the strike.
Ant and Dec, normally live with phone-ins from viewers, was pre-recorded to avoid the stoppage, and Hit Me Baby, ITV's flagship programme for Saturday evening, was switched to the BBC's studios in West London. A mainly-freelance crew will attempt to transmit it only yards from another studio where the BBC's own Saturday night special, Strictly Dance Fever, will be going out live at exactly the same time.
A number of BBC union members scheduled to work on Hit Me Baby have been advised by BECTU to withdraw goodwill, and rigorously observe job descriptions and limits on working time.
Download advice to members [320kb pdf]
Both BECTU and Amicus have indicated to ITV that, in spite of the stoppage, they are willing to meet management at any time if there is a prospect of an improved pay offer.