KEY POINTS:
Television New Zealand staff have walked off the job for 24 hours tonight as strike action at the state broadcaster escalates.
About 300 members from the Public Service Association (PSA) and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) started the escalating industrial action at 5:05pm.
The 24-hour strike came after numerous short stoppages, which have disrupted programmes such as TV One News and the Sunday programme.
But TVNZ deputy head of current affairs, Steve Rowe, told NZPA viewers were "unlikely" to notice any disruptions in shows over tonight and tomorrow.
"The news will be going out the same as it always does."
Mr Rowe said the jobs that were affected were in journalism and technical areas, but they had prepared for the shortage and had organised cover.
"We have a plan B and plan B is getting rolled out."
PSA organiser Brendan Sheehan said the action was aimed at making TVNZ certain that their members were serious about a fair deal which recognised their value to the company.
"The lightening strike action has been going for nearly a month with disruptions to news, sports and current events shows."
Last week union members voted to escalate the industrial action, Mr Sheehan said.
EPMU organiser Rachel Mackintosh said TVNZ should consider the benefits that a happy and productive workforce would have on the quality of its broadcasting.
"This is a company that is owned by all New Zealanders -- it should behave with the decency New Zealanders pride themselves on."
The striking workers want a 5 per cent pay rise, and an additional week of leave, and say TVNZ has only offered a 2.25 per cent pay increase and no extra annual leave.
Union members were based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch .
- NZPA
