I've heard this sort of thing before. One of my customers is a camera man, he has worked on a few documentary/reality tv series in the UK for a certain big TV channel. There is a person in charge of the budget for each programme, hiring the staff, venues etc. If they produce the show for less, its better for them, so they screw over whoever can be screwed over. Gary Lineker and the like don't get asked for a pay cut, because they'll just go to ITV instead but the essential staff that aren't in front of the camera will be pushed to work for as little as can be got away with, especially if there are plenty others to fill their boots if they say no.