ITV workers on strike

WORKERS employed by ITV News took strike action against low pay last Thursday in action organised by the National Union of Journalists and broadcasting union Bectu, timed to coincide with the company’s annual general meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in Westminster.

The unions have rejected a two per cent pay offer as inadequate.

Michelle Stanistreet, the NUJ general secretary, said: “Members from across the joint unions at ITV have stuck together in this battle for a fair pay settlement and support has been flooding in from across the trade union movement and beyond.”

She joined strikers in a rally outside the AGM handing copies of an open letter to shareholders as they arrived.

“This dispute is easily sorted out; ITV needs to get back round the table to negotiate a sensible deal,” said Ms Stanistreet.

“NUJ members have consistently delivered great journalism and content that is the bedrock of the company’s success. The company’s success is down to a team effort. Staff have stuck by the company during the difficult times, but it is unfair and insulting that when profits are soaring and the company is bullish about its financial future success, executives at the top are trousering huge amounts of cash while refusing to pay staff fairly.”

The strike won widespread solidarity from other unions, including the TUC, the Prison Offices’ Association, the National Union of Teachers, PCS, RMT, GMB, URTU and others