STV’s coverage of the Scottish elections will be severely disrupted as journalists and some technical staff stage a 24-hour strike on Friday in a dispute over pay.
There will be no Scottish news bulletins or programmes as the results of the biggest political events of the year are declared. An episode of The Chase will replace the scheduled election programme.
An episode of travel series Sean’s Scotland will be shown instead of the STV News at Six. Current affairs programme Scotland Tonight will not appear.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and broadcast trade union Bectu said staff had been left with no choice after receiving an offer that amounts to a pay cut in real terms.
STV said it understood the challenge for staff, but insisted the move was necessary to put the company on a firm financial footing.
Paul McManus, Bectu negotiations officer for Scotland, said: “Staff at STV have been left with no choice but to take this action. They are being asked to take a real terms pay cut against the backdrop of rocketing prices and when they are already overworked.
“As usual, it is workers being asked to take the financial hit while STV seems able to find money to invest in other areas of the business.”
A spokesperson for STV said the company had to take steps to “respond to market conditions facing the media sector. We recognise a temporary salary freeze is challenging for colleagues.
“Returning the business to a strong financial footing is our priority and will protect the long-term interests of our colleagues.
“We are disappointed that the unions’ chosen day of action will impact our on-air audiences and we remain committed to continuing the dialogue with the joint unions.”
The strike is distinct from a dispute over STV’s plans to scrap its separate news operation in the north of Scotland. Media regulator Ofcom has been minded to support the plan and expected to announce its decision within the next few weeks.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, the NUJ’s Scottish organiser, said: “Our members would much rather be reporting the election results than standing on picket lines, but they have been driven to this action by management indifference as to how underworked and underpaid they are.
“Chief executive Rufus Radcliffe has once again failed to grasp the opportunity to end this dispute.”
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