STV staff could take strike action before Christmas, say union leaders

Staff at STV could take strike action before Christmas as part of a row over cuts to jobs and programming, union leaders said.

The National Union of Journalists is balloting members for industrial action, with the union insisting the move is about “defending the integrity of public service broadcasting and the journalists who make it possible”.

It comes after the broadcaster announced proposals to make 60 staff redundant – with the NUJ saying half of those would be in the newsroom.

In addition, STV plans to replace its central belt and north of Scotland news with a single programme from Glasgow, with this including sections devoted to regional news.

First Minister John Swinney has already expressed his concerns about the proposals.

And NUJ Scotland organiser Nick McGowan-Lowe said: “In the face of compulsory redundancies and deep cuts to programming, this strike ballot is about defending the integrity of public service broadcasting and the journalists who make it possible.

“Standing together is the only way to protect the future of quality journalism at STV North, so we are asking members to vote in favour of industrial action.”

However, STV chief executive Rufus Radcliffe has previously said the proposals being consulted on are necessary to “protect regional journalism” as the service is “not financially sustainable in its current form”.

He told Holyrood’s Culture Committee last month: “As a commercial public service broadcaster that receives no public funding, the challenges we face are significant, driven by changing viewer behaviour and a very tough, macro-economic backdrop.”

As a result, he said STV must “restructure, streamline operations and accelerate our digital transformation”.

NUJ members at STV last month passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Radcliffe and the company’s leadership team.

Radcliffe said: “STV is committed to undertaking a full collective consultation process to secure the best outcomes for our colleagues in the face of a period of significant change across our sector.

“It is disappointing that the NUJ has moved to a measure which should be used as a last resort.

“Our priority continues to be supporting our colleagues through a period of organisational change to ensure STV is on a sustainable financial footing in the future, and that we implement changes that protect regional news in the face of rapidly changing viewing habits.”