ABC shows off the air as staff walk out over pay offer
ABC staff are on strike for the first time in 20 years after a majority rejected the national broadcaster’s latest pay offer.
Staff are protesting a lackluster pay deal with short-term contracts and limited career progression, as well as below-inflation increases.
The strike resulted in the ABC’s flagship news programmes, including Radio National Breakfast, being taken off air, with pre-programmed programs and BBC content being played instead.
Journalists have been advised not to speak to the media ahead of the strike, which begins at 11am (AEDT) on Wednesday.
Large gatherings are expected outside ABC offices across the country, including in Melbourne and Sydney, during the 24-hour strike.
The Community and Public Sector Alliance and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance represent staff working at the ABC.
“We’ve been negotiating with the ABC for a long time and what we want to see is an outcome that reflects cost-of-living pressures and actually respects the really important work that the ABC does,” CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly told AAP.
“The ABC plays such an important role in our society and in Australian storytelling, and it’s really important that ABC management has a seat at the table.”
Nearly 60 percent of ABC staff rejected management’s offer of a 10 percent pay increase over three years.
Unions are also demanding higher penalty rates for night shifts, rules on reproductive health leave and artificial intelligence.
“Experienced journalists and media professionals are being asked to do more with less—with fewer opportunities for salary advancement, less uncertainty about their future, and increased workload,” said MEAA CEO Erin Madeley. he said.
This will be the organization’s first major strike since 2006.
ABC chief executive Hugh Marks said the deal was fiscally responsible and competitive for the industry.
“The average tenure of an ABC staff member is more than 10 years, three times the economy average… More than 90 per cent of ABC staff are continuing employees,” Mr Marks said.
“The pay offer reflects the maximum the ABC can sustainably deliver and is balanced looking at all the factors we need to take into account.”
More than 4,400 people work at ABC; 2000 of them are in the largest section, news.
ABC has been contacted for comment.
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