Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
22/11/2006

ITV Pensions Plan Sparks Strike Threat

Unions are threatening to take industrial action at ITV over proposals to close the company's final salaries pension scheme.
The three main ITV unions, Bectu, NUJ, and Amicus have promised to call a strike ballot if ITV closes its final salary pension scheme and transfer staff to a less generous "career average" scheme.
Management hope to introduce pension changes from April 2007, and any union industrial action would take place in the New Year.
The unions said that ITV wished to look at changes to its pension scheme including; replacing the final salary scheme with a career average scheme; changing the accrual rate from 50ths to 60ths; harmonising the retirement age at 63 (some staff have a retirement age of 60 and others 65, as a result of numerous ITV mergers); and, finally, increasing members' contributions.
Unions were told that the motive for cuts in pension benefits was that ITV wanted to reduce its employers' contribution, which currently averages at 28%, by as much as 10% of payroll costs.
Bectu Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "When our representatives met yesterday, they were extremely angry the company had decided to make such savage changes to their pension arrangements at a time when the company's profits are up and after a significant period of job-shedding through redundancies and outsourcing.
"We are prepared to enter into meaningful negotiations with ITV, but we will not rubber-stamp its pension proposals and significantly worsen our members' employment package. We hope ITV will reflect on its proposals. However, if they persist, we will not be afraid to call our members out on strike."
ITV's move to reduce pension benefits follows on from a similar proposal under discussion between the unions and ITN, the network's news provider.
(SP)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

21/04/2023
HPA Opens Call For Proposals For 2023 HPA Engineering Excellence Award
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Awards Committee has announced the opening call for submissions for the 2023 HPA Engineering Excellence A
29/09/2017
RTS Announces Nominations For North West Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the nominations for its annual awards, at an event sponsored by Audio Network. Cat
02/02/2007
Unions Set To Address Pension Scheme Changes With ITV
Bectu, Amicus, and NUJ, have tabled concessions over pension scheme changes in a bid to resolve a potential dispute. ITV has been in discussion with t
25/08/2023
ITV Studios Becomes An Associate Member Of The TV Access Project
ITV Studios has become an Associate Member of the TV Access Project (TAP), as part of its wider commitment to make the TV industry more accessible for
14/02/2024
New Head Of News Appointed For ITV West Country
ITV has announced the new Head of News for ITV West Country will be Nimesh Joshi, who is currently Programme and Digital Editor at ITV Central. Nimesh
02/10/2015
RTS North West Announce Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the shortlist for its annual awards at an event hosted by CBBC presenter Lauren Lay
23/07/2001
ITV TO FORM NEW ONLINE DIVISION
ITV ARE to form a new division, ITV Interactive, as the unified home for all online and interactive activities and the portal operations of ITV Active
03/03/2023
ITV Adds Resi To Its Media For Quality Portfolio
ITV is adding architectural tech company Resi to its Media for Equity portfolio in its first investment of 2023. As part of ITV Adventures Invest, its
19/06/2023
ITV Academy Announces Production Finance Traineeship
The ITV Academy has announced its first-ever Production Finance Traineeship, which will offer entry-level roles to newcomers to television. The traine
27/07/2023
ITV And Pact Agree Pivotal New Terms Of Trade Deal
ITV and Pact have announced a pivotal new terms of trade deal fit for the streaming era. The new terms put audiences front and centre, ensuring they c
12/01/2024
ITV And ITV Studios Appoints Executive Producer For Continuing Drama
ITV and ITV Studios has appointed Iain MacLeod as Executive Producer for Continuing Drama. With immediate effect, Iain will be responsible for leading
06/07/2023
TF1 France And Vox Germany Announce Local Versions Of 'My Mum, Your Dad'
TF1 in France and Vox in Germany are the next major broadcasters to announce their editions of My Mum, Your Dad, the fast-selling, second chance datin
06/11/2023
ITV Academy And Creative Access Launch New Traineeship
The ITV Academy, in partnership with Creative Access, jas announced the launch of a new traineeship in memory of ITV Sport Technical Director, Roger P
06/04/2023
ITV Unveils Social Media Awareness Hub
ITV has unveiled a new Social Media Awareness Hub, designed to help all participants on ITV-produced or commissioned shows to deal with trolling onlin
13/05/2004
SMG settles differences with ITV over digital rights
Following the recent sale of The Scottish Media Group's (SMG) 25% GMTV stake held to ITV plc, the two companies have reached an agreement on the use o