Pay Dispute Overtime Ban Looms At Soho Images

An overtime ban is due to begin on Friday, November 24 at leading film lab and post-production house Soho Images.
According to Bectu, union members at Soho images will be working only their basic hours in protest at their 2006 pay offer which is below inflation, and late in payment.
The London-based company, owned by Ascent Media, has offered a 2% rise this year, and proposes to pay increased salaries from July 2006, instead of the usual April anniversary date.
The union claim that management has refused to improve on the initial 2% offer despite efforts by Bectu to reach an agreed outcome to the pay talks, and members eventually voted by a majority of 86% to take industrial action short of a strike.
An overtime ban is likely to affect the service available to broadcast customers at weekends, including the BBC and independent production companies.
The union's original claim, which should have been settled by April 1 this year was for a rise of 5%, to acknowledge the increased productivity being offered by staff.
Inflation last month stood at 3.7% per annum, and is expected to remain at more than 3% for the forseeable future.
(DS)