Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

ITV staff vote for strike

Paul McCann Media Editor
Tuesday 02 February 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

ONE-THIRD of the ITV network faces disruption after a vote in favour of strike action by broadcasting unions yesterday.

Granada, LWT and Yorkshire Tyne-Tees programmes could be pulled off air from 22 February unless the Granada Media Group, which owns all three broadcasters, enters talks about pay, a union spokesman said yesterday.

The first programmes to be hit will be live regional news and magazine programmes in each of the local franchise areas. ITV network programmes such as Coronation Street, Blind Date and Heartbeat will be affected only if the dispute is prolonged.

Members of Bectu, the National Union of Journalists and the AEEU voted 75 per cent in favour of strike action if Granada does not increase its 3.6 per cent pay offer. The unions claim that directors of the company have awarded themselves pay increases worth an extra 14 per cent, while the company has increased profits by 21 per cent to pounds 255m. The unions have asked the arbitration service Acas to intervene and the service has requested that Granada enter talks. The broadcaster has yet to respond.

A Granada statement yesterday said that only 10 per cent of its workforce had voted for strike action.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in