ABC switches to BBC programming as staff walk off the job for 24-hour strike | Australian Broadcasting Corporation

More than 2,000 ABC staff across Australia walked off the job in a 24-hour strike, forcing ABC services across TV, radio and digital to use the BBC World Service and repeat programmes.

ABC chief executive Hugh Marks was defiant and said the ABC would not back down on staff demands despite the serious disruption.

ABC News started broadcasting the BBC World Service at 11am after staff walked out in protest.

Broadcasting great Fran Kelly told striking staff outside Ultimo’s Sydney headquarters that some of her producers were living in Wollongong or Newcastle because they couldn’t afford to live in Sydney and had been in the same pay bracket for almost a decade.

“I stayed because I love it here, I’m committed to public broadcasting, that’s why you’re all here,” the Radio National Hour presenter said.

“I’ve seen too many sensational journalists, sensational producers, leave not because they want to, but because they have to… it’s unacceptable to be stuck at a salary level you can’t live on.”

Marks strongly denied claims that jobs at ABC were insecure, claiming more than 90% were permanent and the average tenure of an employee was more than 10 years.

Raf Epstein, ABC radio’s Melbourne mornings host Just before 11am he announced that staff were on strike because of “a debate about how best to ensure sustainable, safe working”.

“The staff and management really agree that you need to be a priority and provide you with quality programs,” he said. “Staff and management do not agree on how to achieve sustainable and safe jobs. That is the reason for the strike.

“We don’t like talking to you and being around you, but I’ll be back on your radio Friday morning.”

The local radio station then played the 1988 Boy Meets Girl hit Waiting for a Star to Fall.

Triple J FM presenters said shortly before 11am that automated messaging would be broadcast during the strike.

At 11 a.m., Emma Louise and Flume’s Monsoon began, soon segueing into NWA’s Express Yourself, the song played 82 consecutive times on the station during the ABC industrial action of 1990.

Television’s flagship news programmes, including News Breakfast, 7pm news bulletins, 7.30am and all morning to evening radio news programmes, will be replaced by the BBC World Service as staff go on strike for the first time in 20 years.

Staff were protesting low pay offers that left them behind inflation, working conditions and the publisher’s refusal to replace journalists with artificial intelligence.

“Obviously we will be severely impacted if our staff are not available,” Marks told ABC Radio Sydney earlier on Wednesday. “We will do our best to ensure viewers have access to information.

“We will use BBC content where it is appropriate and available to us.

“We will continue the services but they will not be to the standard I want them to be on air.”

Marks apologized to viewers for the disruption and explained that it could have been a trigger for staff to return to work after he changed the definition of the emergency broadcast at the 11th hour to include more than fires, floods, hurricanes and acts of nature.

Exemptions have been put in place to ensure emergency broadcasts continue as former Tropical Cyclone Narelle continues its path across the northwest of the country.

Marks said that if it was an issue of national or international importance he would call on staff to end strike action and return to work.

Erin Madeley, chief executive of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said staff were already committed to returning to work in the event of a major incident that puts audiences at risk and questioned what could change overnight.

Unions argued the offer of a total 10% pay increase over three years, with 3.5% in the first year and 3.25% in the second and third years, was too low and failed to address concerns about the staff evaluation process, career progression, night shift penalty rates and reproductive health leave.

Australia’s annual inflation rate in January was 3.8%.

Marks said staff costs were 60% of the ABC budget and any increase would mean redundancies. He denied the offer was below inflation because he said the last-minute offer of a $1,000 sweetener put staff ahead of 4.4% inflation.

Announcements about the upcoming strike by presenters on television and radio programs were made overnight.

Marks said at least one of the statements about why staff were disrupting their work was incorrect, saying it was about pay, not job security.

The chief executive criticized the enterprise bargaining process and claimed the union had not changed its position in nine months.

“I find it very difficult to deal with an organization with which I cannot come to an agreement,” he said. “And when we agree, it disappears beneath my feet.”

Madeley said it was inaccurate to say the union had been stonewalling for the past nine months. “There has been significant movement on a wide range of issues,” he told ABC Radio Sydney.

Marks said he felt bad about withdrawing services from the public: “And I apologize to some of the staff for feeling in a really difficult position today because I know how difficult this can be for individuals.”

MEAA vice president Adam Portelli criticized the way Marks had previously spoken about staff demands on ABC radio. “And those of you who heard Hugh Marks’ words this morning know that the company has not treated any of you with anything close to respect,” he told the Melbourne rally.