STAFF at STV are set to vote on strike action over significant cuts to jobs and programming.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is balloting members at STV over the proposed axing of the STV North edition of the News at 6, as well as compulsory redundancies.
Strikes could take place before Christmas if union members vote in favour, the NUJ said.
It comes after The National revealed STV North's profits rose by nearly 24% last year, with the SNP calling on STV bosses to reverse plans to make cuts.
STV first announced cuts in September, including 60 proposed redundancies – half of which were expected to fall on the newsroom.
However, the NUJ said a voluntary redundancy scheme has only resulted in around half of the cuts the company said it intends to make.
It is understood the number of roles potentially impacted in the business area represented by the NUJ is in the single figures.
The union said STV's two News at 6 programmes are "extremely successful, regularly outperforming their rival, Reporting Scotland on BBC One", as well as "often being the most watched programmes on linear television in Scotland throughout the day".
Commenting, NUJ Scotland organiser Nick McGowan-Lowe said: “In the face of compulsory redundancies and deep cuts to programming, this strike ballot is about defending the integrity of public service broadcasting and the journalists who make it possible.
“Standing together is the only way to protect the future of quality journalism at STV North, so we are asking members to vote in favour of industrial action.”
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STV currently airs separate live newscasts at 6pm presented from Glasgow and Aberdeen, but it plans to ask Ofcom for permission to produce just one news programme covering both of its licence areas.
The broadcaster had entered into new 10-year licences with Ofcom in January, but is now renegotiating these terms as a result of a decline in viewership and advertising.
Ofcom is set to open a consultation on the proposed changes later this year, with a decision expected around March next year.
The NUJ raised concerns that the company has said it intends to make cuts regardless of Ofcom's decision, including moving production and presentation of the STV North News at 6 from Aberdeen to Glasgow.
The union's STV chapel previously passed a vote of no confidence in the company's management, while the union has also accused the company of a "knee-jerk reaction" to its own financial mismanagement.
Rufus Radcliffe, CEO of STV 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.”
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