STV journalists and technical staff are set to stage a one-day strike on Friday 8 May, coinciding with the Scottish Parliament election count, in a deepening dispute over pay and conditions. Unions warn the walkout will disrupt coverage on one of the broadcaster’s biggest political news days of the year, potentially limiting live results and analysis for viewers across Scotland.
Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), alongside colleagues in broadcasting union Bectu, backed the action after talks with management over a proposed pay freeze broke down. Union representatives say the strike has been deliberately timed to send a clear signal to senior executives about staff anger over pay restraint, job cuts and mounting workloads in the newsroom.
Pay freeze and rising tensions
At the heart of the dispute is STV’s decision not to offer any pay award for 2026, nor to set out clear principles for compensatory pay in 2027, against a backdrop of rising living costs. Journalists say they have been asked to absorb more work following recent restructures while seeing their pay effectively cut in real terms.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ Scotland organiser, said: “It’s regrettable and frustrating 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.” He added: “It is one thing to write warm words in the annual report recognising that the success of the newsroom is built on the backs of its staff, but CEO Rufus Radcliffe needs to back that up with real actions.”
The strike threat follows a period of upheaval at the broadcaster, including plans to cut roles and reshape regional news output. Staff say the changes have left smaller teams trying to sustain the same level of coverage across broadcast bulletins, digital platforms and social media.
Union officials argue that the combination of a pay freeze, headcount reductions and ongoing uncertainty over future provision has eroded trust in senior management. They say the Holyrood results-day walkout reflects a wider concern about the long-term health of public service journalism in Scotland if newsrooms are continually asked to “do more with less”
STV insists that news remains central to its strategy and highlights strong audience figures for its flagship bulletin. In the company’s latest annual report, chief executive Rufus Radcliffe said: “We are proud that STV News At Six remains the most-watched news programme in Scotland, and the team has delivered significant growth in video views across our digital news platforms.”
Executives argue that a period of pay restraint is necessary to protect the wider business and support future investment in content and services. However, union leaders say that message will ring hollow with staff unless it is matched by a fair pay package that reflects the contribution of journalists and production teams to STV’s success.
Election coverage at risk
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With no overnight count planned, the election results day has taken on added importance for broadcasters trying to capture the political story as it unfolds. The strike is expected to force changes to STV’s planned output, with viewers potentially seeing reduced live coverage, fewer studio guests or greater reliance on pre-recorded material.
The NUJ says members “want to be on air reporting this election” but feel they have been left with no choice but to withdraw their labour to be heard. Further industrial action has not been ruled out if the dispute is not resolved, leaving the prospect of ongoing tension between STV management and its newsroom beyond polling day.
