Journalists and technical staff at STV have walked out on strike in a dispute over pay, affecting coverage on the day of the Holyrood election count.
Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said members, along with those at Bectu, which represents technical staff, are taking action over a pay freeze which unions said amounts to “a real-terms pay cut”.
The action on Friday will affect STV coverage of the Holyrood election results, with an episode of game show The Chase replacing an election programme that had been scheduled for 5pm.
STV said the broadcaster will stay with the Channel 3 network schedule throughout the day, except at 6pm when an episode of Sean’s Scotland will air, with regular updates on the election provided on the STV News digital service and on STV Radio.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ Scotland organiser, said: “It’s frustrating that due to the stubbornness of STV management, on the biggest news day in Scotland for years, Scottish viewers, listeners and readers won’t be able to hear what some of the most well-respected journalists, reporters and producers in Scottish broadcasting have to say.
“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’s indifference as to how overworked and underpaid they are.
“CEO Rufus Radcliffe has once again failed to grasp the opportunity to end this dispute, and it is personally embarrassing for him that STV will be broadcasting reruns instead of the biggest news story in Scotland.”
NUJ and Bectu members are manning pickets outside STV offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen on Friday.
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.”
Mr McManus said that the pay freeze is having a “brutal” effect on people’s income and that members are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families.
He said members could “absolutely” take more industrial action and that discussions will take place with them and with the NUJ in the next couple of weeks to decide what steps to take next.
Mr McManus said: “The intention from our side is that today’s action will demonstrate to the company how important it is that they get back around the table quickly.”
Commenting on the fact members are striking on election count day, he said: “There comes a point where they have to choose between doing their jobs, the jobs they love, or paying the bills.
“And they had hoped, they do hope, that by choosing today to take the action on such an important day in Scottish life, that the company will understand finally, how angry they are with the situation that the company has put these people into.”
An STV spokesperson said: “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 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 comes after STV last year announced plans to axe its dedicated north programme, along with up to 60 jobs across the company.
It will replace the north programme with a single programme from Glasgow, which will include sections devoted to regional news.
STV said its proposal will see the creation of a new STV News At 6 programme, which would see the STV Central and STV North licences share and co-produce output.
The programme will include a shared section broadcast by both licences (70%) featuring contributions from across Scotland, plus separate sections with content specific to each licence (30%).
The company applied to the regulator Ofcom for permission to reduce its public service broadcasting obligations and to drop regionalised versions of the flagship News At 6 across its two channel three licence areas.
Ofcom has said it will not publish a decision on the proposals until after the Scottish election.