A Scottish broadcaster has been told to “wake up and listen to its staff” by a union, as its journalists prepare for strike action in an ongoing pay dispute.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said on Monday that news reporting staff at STV will strike after voting by 89% in favour of industrial action.
The NUJ says this is due to last-minute talks with Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) resulting in STV’s management refusing to offer to resolve a pay dispute.
There is now expected to be disruption throughout the summer, as journalists walk out of newsrooms and onto picket lines.
Strike dates have yet to be announced, however, NUJ members who work for the broadcaster are to meet on Tuesday to discuss the form and timescale of industrial action.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, the NUJ’s national organiser for Scotland said: “This is an overwhelming result which should make the STV board wake up and listen to its staff.
“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.
“This situation is quickly resolvable as soon as the company comes back to the table with a fair offer, but the longer they refuse to do so, the angrier advertisers and audiences will get as their favourite programmes are affected.”
It comes as STV, which holds the licence for Channel 3 in central and north Scotland, announced they made £168.4 million in revenue last year.
The union said despite this, the company has said it can not afford to grant journalists a pay rise which matches inflation for all employees, citing difficult marketing conditions last year.
The NUJ said it asked for a 6% increase.
STV holds the Channel 3 licence to cover central and north Scotland.
STV has been contacted for comment.
