STV News journalists vote for strike action in dispute over pay

Journalists at STV News are set to go on strike after voting overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay.

The National Union of Journalists said its members had seen their pay cut in real terms following a year of record inflation.

Members of the NUJ based at STV’s offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness voted 89% in favour of strike action after last minute talks at ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) went unresolved.

Nick McGowan-Lowe, the NUJ’s national organiser for Scotland said: “Our members are dedicated and talented professionals who have made STV Scotland’s most-watched peak-time TV channel for the fifth consecutive year – but they have had enough of being told they should accept below inflation pay rises at a time when the company boasts of record revenues.”

The NUJ said it had asked for a 6% increase for staff.

A spokesperson for STV said the offer made to staff is “fair and financially sustainable” and it was “disappointed” by the outcome of the vote.

“We have a track record of looking after our people and supporting their financial wellbeing,” a spokesperson said.

“In addition to salary awards at or in excess of inflation over recent years, with the exception of during Covid, we have made a number of additional cost of living and bonus payments to colleagues over the past two years when many other companies have not.”

Strike dates have yet to be announced, however, journalists and the NUJ are to meet on Tuesday to discuss the form and timescale of industrial action.

There is expected to be disruption throughout the summer, as journalists walk out of newsrooms and onto picket lines.

But the broadcaster said contingency plans are in place should the NUJ decide to go ahead with strike action.