ITV has increased its pay offer for staff from 2.2% to 3% just four months after ending a bitter pay dispute with unions that led to a strike.
ITV chief executive Adam Crozier said in an email all staff earning under £100,00 would receive a 3% rise from 2016, those earning more would get a 2.5% rise.
The unexpected pay bump follows months of strong financial performance, including a 25% boost in profits for the first six months of 2015 and an 8% jump in ad revenues in the three months to October driven by the Rugby World Cup.
Crozier wrote: “I’m pleased to let you know that, given the company’s good performance, we have decided to further increase salaries for everyone who’s eligible.”
In May, a 24-hour strike was organised by unions including Bectu and the National Union of Journalists to coincide with the company’s annual general meeting.
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid and journalist Martin Lewis refused to cross picket lines to appear on ITV programmes and there were reports that filming of shows including Coronation Street had to be postponed.
The unions eventually agreed to a 2.2% pay rise starting from 2016, a small improvement on the 2% ITV had initially offered which had been described as “miserly”, as well as contractual improvements including an increase in leave and redundancy terms for longer serving staff.
The National Union of Journalists and Bectu didn’t responded to a request for comment.
