Members start voting on ITV pay

Ballot papers have been sent to BECTU and Amicus members in ITV, who will decide on an improved pay offer from the company.

The new package, tabled by management after a 36-hour stoppage earlier this month, adds several new benefits on top of a 3.3% increase in basic pay which members originally rejected.

Among the extra concessions offered by ITV after the strike are a non-consolidated £100 flat payment, and £330 worth of ITV shares for each employee.

ITV has also promised to reinstate a profit-related bonus for staff from January 2006, and will conduct a review of the Technical Operator grade in all ITV-owned companies.

Details of the new offer were clarified by ITV after a meeting with union negotiators on April 11, and ballot papers were not dispatched until the deal could be clearly explained to members.

Although the new offer was welcomed by BECTU and Amicus, negotiators have made no recommendation to members on whether to accept it or not, and unions have ensured that industrial action could be resumed it is rejected.

BECTU's ballot closes on April 29, and covers all ITV companies except Ulster and Channel TV, and Scottish Media Group's Scottish TV and Grampian.