The industrial dispute at STV has ended, after journalists accepted an improved pay offer.
82% of National Union of Journalist members voted in favour of the deal, which will see a consolidated increase, backdated to January and a guaranteed bonus of up to £500 to all staff in July. There could also be a further bonus if the company hits profit targets.
The union stated that this represented a pay increase of up to 6.7%.
STV has also agreed to increase the salary structure of journalists on 5 mid-range salary grades in line with market rates. It has also said it will introduce an enhanced family friendly policy, increasing maternity, adoption and shared parental leave pay across the business.
“This has been a slow and difficult dispute, but we have finally reached a pay offer that has been accepted by our members. Our members at STV have secured an improved settlement not just for the newsroom – but also for their other 400 colleagues across STV, who now have a guaranteed bonus in July and a further, increased potential bonus payable next year, as well as significant improvements to the maternity and adoption leave terms,” said Nick McGowan-Lowe, the NUJ’s national organiser for Scotland.
“None of this would have been achieved without the solidarity, determination and professionalism of STV’s journalists, who deserve fair pay and respect within the company as the public face of STV’s brand, and the leadership of our workplace reps. We look forward to working with STV in addressing issues over workload and the commitment to the company to revert to a flat percentage award applied on an across-the-board basis in 2025.”
An STV spokesperson added:
“We’re pleased that this matter is resolved and that our colleagues represented by the NUJ have accepted the salary award that colleagues across STV have received since 1 Jan 2024.
“We are also pleased the NUJ has accepted that an increase of 6% was unrealistic and unaffordable for all staff.
“The structure of this award was always designed to deliver a higher increase to colleagues on lower salaries who are benefitting from an above inflation increase.”
