Strike ballot extended at ITN

An industrial action ballot among BECTU and NUJ members at news provider ITN has been extended by two weeks.

The ballot, originally due to close on December 22, will now run until 1200 on Friday January 5 2007, after members reported postal problems in the run-up to Christmas.

ITN can now look forward to a peaceful New Year - the original intention of the unions had been to call a strike on December 31 - but officials are expecting that the result will be a strong majority in favour of strike action, even after extra time for votes to be returned.

Members at the company are angry about planned changes to their pension benefits, including an increase in retirement age to 65, but the company tabled a controversial "final offer" last month, threatening to impose the changes without agreement.

Unlike many other UK companies, the ITN pension scheme is not in trouble, but managers have been told that if staff are to continue building up pension rights at the current rate, the company must contribute an extra 6% of its payroll.