ITV production staff

ITV production staff in the Bectu, NUJ and Unite unions took national strike action over pay on 14 May.

Pay has fallen 4% in recent years while ITV’s profits soared 23% to £712 million. ITV offered a measly 1.25% pay rise, later upped to 2%. They previously said during the 2013-14 pay negotiations that 2.75% would be affordable in 2015.

Around 30 Unite and Bectu members picketed the Leeds ITV offices. At the picket line I met grips, prop assistants, camera operators and others angry about this insulting offer. Emmerdale, filmed at the Leeds studios, had its shooting cancelled for the day.

Several strikers were convinced they’ll have to come out again to get the decent pay rise they deserve.

Iain Dalton