Journalists at the Scottish broadcaster STV are set to strike over a pay dispute.
They asked for a 6% pay rise, although the broadcaster maintains that its current pay offer is:
“fair and financially responsible.”
News bulletins on 4 April are likely to be cancelled due to the strike, along with the programme Scotland Tonight.
They may be replaced with other material.
Strikers have said they will create picket lines outside STV’s studios in Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen.
They have also organised a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have argued the 6% rise is necessary to keep up with inflation, and that the salaries for STV journalists have failed to keep pace with those of BBC and ITV workers.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, the union’s national organiser for Scotland, said that workers are:
“only asking for their pay to keep track with inflation.”
He continued:
“The STV board needs to listen to members and come back to the table with a fair offer.”
STV described the NUJ’s requests as:
“unrealistic and unaffordable.”
They said:
“Our enhanced offer of this week, which included confirmation of a bonus for all STV employees – as we won’t agree a separate deal for NUJ members – was rejected by the NUJ.”
STV made over £20 million in profit last year.
STV have planned another strike for 16 April.
“STV HQ & studios, Pacific Quay, Glasgow (geograph 3573858)” by Leslie Barrie is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.