STV journalists to vote on strike before Christmas

STV journalists previously took strike action over pay

Journalists at STV are to vote on taking strike action over the company's plans to scrap the separate news service for the north of Scotland with the risk of compulsory redundancies.

The company wants show a single programme covering central and Northern Scotland. Up to 30 jobs in news could go.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) says industrial action could take place before Christmas.

STV said its priority continued to be supporting colleagues through a period of organisational change and ensure the company was on a "sustainable financial footing in the future".

STV has started to tell individual staff their jobs could be at risk.

The planned cuts to news are part of a wider scheme by the company to try to save £3m and cut 60 jobs.

Regulator Ofcom is due to start a consultation on whether to allow the changes to news in the next few weeks.

The broadcaster plans to axe its news programme from Aberdeen

However, STV said it does not need permission to stop studio production and presentation in Glasgow. This could lead to the north receiving bulletins recorded in Glasgow if Ofcom does not support STV's plans for a single service.

STV recently reported a loss of £200,000 amid a drop in advertising revenue and commissions to make programmes for other broadcasters and streamers.

Its share price has fallen badly and the company is currently worth about £50m.

The union has highlighted accounts filed with Companies House which said that STV North (the part of the business with the legal licence to broadcast to northern Scotland) made a profit of about £9m last year.

But STV says these figures do not tell the whole story.

A spokesperson said: "STV North doesn't operate as a standalone business and its profit and loss account primarily comprises apportionments from elsewhere in the group and... we don't include all intercompany costs from the wider Audience division or group."

Reacting to the strike ballot, Rufus Radcliffe, STV's chief executive, 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."

Union laws mean more than a simple majority for strike action is needed. Before the union can call a strike, at least 50% of those being balloted will need to vote.