'Corrie' threatened by ITV strike

ITV productions were hit by a strike this morning after negotiations broke down when unions refused to accept a 3.3% pay deal.

The action will affect soap operas 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale', as the stoppage hits production companies including London Weekend Television, Yorkshire Television, Granada, 3sixtymedia, companies which commission some of the most popular national programmes.

A Bectu spokesperson said that union would be withdrawing labour from next week.

However, with a number of programmes in hand and some already in the postproduction process it will be a number of episodes before on-air screenings would cease.

The union action will consisting of what the union's described as "phased tactical stoppages" at several of ITV's largest sites and could disrupt programmes ranging from the live 'Saturday Ant and Dec' show to pre-recorded soaps such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

More than 700 production, technical, and support staff are expected to join the action, which will see a 36-hour stoppage from Friday at LWT, Granada, Yorkshire TV, and the Manchester-based facilities operation 3sixtymedia.

It is also expected that union members at these companies will be joined by colleagues from Central TV, Anglia TV, and at ITV's southern control centre in London.

Further stoppages include industrial action next week with a work to rule imposed in many companies, with further targeted walkouts at LWT, Granada, Yorkshire, and 3sixty media.

Though talks have been ongoing, on March 24 members across ITV voted to reject a 3.3% pay offer, and take industrial action.

Unions have expressed anger following figures which revealed that ITV's annual profits had risen to £340 million.

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."

Amicus' National Officer for the broadcast industry, Mike Smallwood, 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."

(SP/GB)