‘Fight will continue’ without change, say ABC workers amid 24-hour strike
Unions representing ABC staff have signaled the possibility of further strike action if the dispute over pay and conditions at the broadcaster is not resolved.
For the first time in two decades, workers at the national broadcaster went on strike for 24 hours from 11am (AEDT) on Wednesday.
The ABC’s chief executive, Hugh Marks, was prompted to apologize to viewers on Wednesday after more than 1,000 journalists and staff walked away.
A majority of staff rejected the broadcaster’s final pay offer under its three-year enterprise employment agreement (EBA) in a vote earlier this week, paving the way for strike action.
To fill the gap, the ABC broadcast BBC content, reruns and statements from members of the federal parliament. Youth broadcaster Triple J switched to a pre-prepared music playlist as staff left the venue.
Nightly news bulletins and flagship current affairs program 7.30 are not broadcast on Wednesday evening and ABC News Breakfast is not broadcast on Thursday morning. Radio programs AM, PM, The World Today and Radio National Breakfast were also affected.
ABC staff say they are negotiating for better pay and conditions. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Emergency broadcast services would remain on the air throughout the strike.
The latest salary offer included a wage increase of 3.5 percent for the first year and 3.25 percent for the next two years.
The proposal also included a $1,000 bonus for all ongoing and fixed-term staff under the EBA.
60 percent of the staff attending the meeting voted “No”.
ABC staff gathered with banners outside the ABC office in Sydney after going on strike. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Journalists across the country are rallying
Striking journalists, camera operators, technicians and other staff marched outside more than 60 ABC offices on Wednesday, including in Melbourne and Sydney.
Public service union organizer Sam McCrone said staff from across the country had turned up and were willing to fight after management applied for a hearing at the Fair Work Commission.
“If this change of venue does not change the administration’s attitude, this fight will continue.”
he said.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which represents most of the striking staff, argued that the offer was below inflation and that demands for solutions to short-term, ongoing contracts were being ignored.
Mr Marks apologizes to ABC viewers for the strike action. (ABC News: Jack Ailwood)
ABC chief executive Hugh Marks argued that the rejected final pay offer (10 per cent over three years) was fiscally responsible and competitive with industry standards.
Mr Marks said the offer, which included a one-off $1,000 bonus, would mean a wage increase above inflation for some workers.
He said he sympathized with some staff who were on indefinite short-term contracts or whose pay was capped at rates linked to their job descriptions, and felt the issue “needed to be addressed”.
AAP/ABC
