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
Pickets outside Granada Manchester today
Shooting on Emmerdale and Coronation Street had been abandoned by 0900, and striking members were maintaining solid picket lines in Leeds, Manchester, and London.

Read union press release

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.

Granada strike hits Coronation Street

8 April 2005

A strike by broadcasting unions Amicus and BECTU at Granada Television studios has forced bosses to cancel the scheduled filming of Coronation Street this Friday.

The 36-hour strike over a low pay offer which started at 7 am on Friday has caused Coronation Street to cancel a day's filming.

The action being taken by BECTU and Amicus members also involves strikes at London Weekend Television, Yorkshire Television and 3sixtymedia disrupting the filming schedules of other popular programmes including Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Parkinson, Heartbeat and Emmerdale.

Action runs from 7 am on Friday 8 April through to 7 pm on Saturday 9 April, also disrupting ITV productions in London and Leeds. More than 700 ITV production, technical and support staff will be involved nationwide.

The strike follows member's rejection of a 3.3 per cent pay offer in a ballot that closed last week. Members are angry that once again their pay rise barely touches inflation after a year of record job cuts and a strong financial performance. During the last five years ITV pay has fallen short of average earnings by 10 per cent and has also fallen below inflation.

Sharon Elliott, BECTU Supervisory Official for Independent Broadcasting, said: 'The support we are receiving from members, non-members and the freelancers ahead of the action is overwhelming. Our cause is just and we look to management to engage with us positively to resolve this dispute.'

Mike Smallwood, Amicus' National Officer for the broadcast industry, said: 'Our members have effectively suffered year on year pay cuts while ITV executives and shareholders have been generously rewarded. We want a higher than inflation pay rise for our members that will begin to improve their living standards and recognises our members' contribution to what is a very successful company. The fact that ITV companies are now having to pay our members overtime rates to ensure programming is ironic.'

The unions have condemned excessive levels of boardroom pay at ITV plc where Chief Executive Charles Allen, has received a bumper remuneration package of £8.7m. ITV's Finance Director is also reported to be paid £1m a year.

For further information please call Sharon Elliott at BECTU on 020 7346 0900, or Catherine Bithell in the Amicus press office on 020 7420 8909 or 07958 473 224.

8 April 2005