Big TV pay-outs expected

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 42

Big TV pay-outs expected

NZPA-AAP London Labelled the biggest pay-out in British television history, 100 London' Weekend Television employees being made reJdundant will receive payaments averaging £22,000 ($59,180) each — some will pocket up to £75,000 ($201,750). “The Times” newspaper in London said generous severance terms have brought two applications for every planned redundancy. LWT is scrapping 200 jobs and has negotiated a. radical agreement with its workforce which will end restrictive work practices and huge overtime payments, called "golden hours.” The changes will enable the television station to compete with outside independent programme producers on equal cost terms. The £2.37 million ($6.37 million) agreement is likely to set a trend in the independent sector that the Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, last year described as the last bastion of trade union restrictive practice. "The Times” said it was felt the unions realised the need for change in the wake of the prolonged industrial dispute at TVAM with the Australian, Bruce Gyngell, in the middle. Mr Gyngell, aged 58, managing director of TVAM virtually ran the station single-handed when hit by a strike but suffered a heart attack 10 we#s ago because of the| strain.