ITV staff are to ballot for strike action after being offered a “miserly” annual pay rise offer of 2%.
The broadcasting unions representing ITV staff argue that the below-inflation offer is unacceptable given the broadcaster is performing strongly and Adam Crozier, chief executive, was paid £8.4m last year.
“ITV’s fortunes are on the up and the chief executive and other top brass at the company are able to pay themselves generous increases,” said Sue Harris, national broadcasting organiser at the National Union of Journalists. “But their loyal staff, who have worked through the lean years, are offered a miserly 2%.”
The unions said that the staff were originally offered a rise of 1.25%, which it said represented a pay cut given the Retail Price Index shows inflation of 2.4%.
“The management just doesn’t get it,” said Harris. “Our members are struggling to pay their bills and transport costs on their present wages. ITV needs to come back with a better offer.”
The joint unions told ITV that members would be prepared to consider a 2.75% rise offer.
ITV’s pre-tax profits surged 30% to £435m and revenues grew a healthy 8% to £2.7bn last year.
“It is thanks to [staff] working harder, because of staff cuts and accepting poor pay deals, that ITV find itself in such a strong position,” said Harris.
ITV said the 2% offer was fair and that the company needed to keep a close eye on costs.
“We believe that the offer we have made is a fair one, reflecting our current circumstances and is consistent with recent pay awards agreed across the media sector and in UK private sector business,” said a spokesman for ITV.
“ITV continues to make good progress, but our focus on costs remains incredibly important across the business as we balance the need to continue to invest in growing the business, people and programming.”
ITV also said that on top of the 2% pay rise offer, eligible staff had been offered perks including a bonus and an extra day holiday.
“For those eligible colleagues earning £60,001 or above – unless covered by a collective agreement – the pay review process will be the same as last year, with any increases based on merit and subject to performance,” said the spokesman. “Eligible colleagues will also receive the maximum £1,200 bonus as well as an additional day’s holiday on 2 January.”
The broadcaster said it was disappointed the offer had been rejected, but that it would continue to have a “positive ongoing dialogue with our staff and unions during this time.”
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