The NUJ has met ITN management in a bid to win improved conditions for ITV News Channel staff facing the sack.
Staff at the News Channel attended the meeting on
Monday along with the NUJ and ITN management in a bid to curb job
losses.
ITN, which produces the News Channel, has said that around 70
staff, the majority of which are journalists, will be at risk after the
channel ceases to broadcast on December 23.
Monday along with the NUJ and ITN management in a bid to curb job
losses.
ITN, which produces the News Channel, has said that around 70
staff, the majority of which are journalists, will be at risk after the
channel ceases to broadcast on December 23.
NUJ broadcasting organiser Paul McLaughlin said
that after four hours of talks ITN management did not agree to a
proposed improved redundancy package or to guarantee there would be no
compulsory redundancies. A second meeting has been scheduled for 10
January.
that after four hours of talks ITN management did not agree to a
proposed improved redundancy package or to guarantee there would be no
compulsory redundancies. A second meeting has been scheduled for 10
January.
The decision to close the channel on the December 23 rather than in January was announced on Monday.
Clive Jones, chief executive ITV News and
regions, said: “The staff and management of the channel have agreed
that we could not expect the News Channel’s dedicated staff to work
their usual long hours and shift patterns over Christmas at a time when
the channel’s closure is imminent. Following ITV’s announcement last
week of a £2m investment in other areas of ITV’s news service we will
be looking at the opportunities created by the expansion of our news
gathering operation to redeploy as many staff as possible in the New
Year.”
regions, said: “The staff and management of the channel have agreed
that we could not expect the News Channel’s dedicated staff to work
their usual long hours and shift patterns over Christmas at a time when
the channel’s closure is imminent. Following ITV’s announcement last
week of a £2m investment in other areas of ITV’s news service we will
be looking at the opportunities created by the expansion of our news
gathering operation to redeploy as many staff as possible in the New
Year.”
Staff are understood to have learnt of the new closure date from an emailed press release.
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