ITV technicians strike set to disrupt top soaps

A strike by broadcasting workers at ITV will disrupt recording of top programmes including Coronation Street and Emmerdale, union leaders warned tonight.

Several hundred members of Bectu and Amicus will stage a 36-hour walkout from 7am on Friday in a dispute over pay.

The unions said filming of Heartbeat will be cancelled for a day, Emmerdale will be filmed in just one location and there will be delays in filming schedules of Coronation Street and Parkinson.

Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway will be pre-recorded rather than being broadcast live, according to the unions.

Mike Smallwood, national officer at Amicus 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.”

Bectu official Sharon Elliot, 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.”