STV Journalists to Strike on Scottish Election Count Day Over Pay Dispute
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has announced that STV journalists and technical staff will stage a one-day strike on Friday, May 8, which coincides with the Scottish Parliament election count. This industrial action is expected to significantly limit STV's coverage of the Holyrood election results, as the broadcaster faces a major pay dispute with its workforce.
Pay Freeze Sparks Industrial Action
The strike comes in response to STV management's refusal to propose any pay award for 2026 or agree on principles for compensatory pay in 2027. This 0% pay offer follows STV's launch of a new radio station in 2025, which cost approximately £500,000. In a letter to unions, STV defended the decision, stating: "A temporary salary freeze for this year is our only option at this stage as we prioritise returning business to profitability."
Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ Scotland organiser, expressed frustration, saying: "It's regrettable that after extensive talks, management are refusing to put forward any kind of fair compensation offer to the overworked and underpaid staff in the newsroom. CEO Rufus Radcliffe needs to back up warm words in the annual report with real actions."
Financial Struggles and Programming Changes
STV's annual report, published recently, revealed a decline in revenue from £188 million in 2024 to £176.9 million in 2025, with profits dropping by £16.3 million to a £5.9 million loss last year. Despite this, Rufus Radcliffe highlighted in the report that "STV News At Six remains the most-watched news programme in Scotland."
The strike follows STV's announcement last year of plans to axe its dedicated north programme and cut around 60 jobs across the company, with approximately 30 of these in news. The north programme will be replaced by a single programme from Glasgow, incorporating regional news sections. STV has applied to regulator Ofcom for permission to reduce its public service broadcasting obligations and drop regionalised versions of the flagship News At 6 across its two channel three licence areas. Ofcom has indicated it will not publish a decision on these proposals until after the Scottish election.
Union and Management Responses
An STV spokesperson responded to the strike announcement, stating: "We recognise a temporary salary freeze is challenging for colleagues, but we've had to take a range of measures to respond to the market conditions facing the media sector. 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 planned day of action will impact our audiences and we remain committed to continuing the dialogue with the joint unions."
The NUJ, along with Bectu which represents technical staff, has called for fair compensation, arguing that staff are overworked and underpaid. This industrial action underscores ongoing tensions in the media sector as companies navigate financial pressures while maintaining quality journalism.
