Staff at Australia’s public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), are striking for the first time in 20 years following an overwhelming vote for protected industrial action beginning on March 25.
Issuing a statement, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said it stands in solidarity with its Australian affiliate, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), in calling on ABC management to ensure fair pay, secure work, and improved conditions that protect quality public-interest journalism.
The 24-hour strike action, beginning at 11 AM on March 25, follows the rejection of ABC management’s latest revision to the proposed enterprise agreement, with 60 per cent of staff voting against the offer that included limited improvements to job security but no increase to pay or key conditions, with a one-off $1,000 payment offered in lieu of a base salary increase.
The rejected agreement proposed a 10 per cent total salary increase over three years, 3.5 per cent in the first year and 3.25 per cent in the subsequent two years, falling short of Australia’s annual inflation rate, which reached 3.8 per cent in January.
Following the rejection, close to 1,000 staff participated in a protected action ballot with over 90 per cent voting in favour of industrial action, with approved actions including unlimited stoppages of work with exemptions to ensure emergency broadcasting continues uninterrupted. Programming across television, radio, and digital platforms will all be significantly disrupted, with content replaced by the BBC World Service and repeats of previous programs.
The MEAA said that below-inflation pay outcomes and the proliferation of insecure work are forcing experienced journalists out of the industry, particularly in regional Australia. “Experienced journalists and media workers are being asked to do more with less – with fewer opportunities for pay progression, less certainty about their future, and growing workloads,” said MEAA Chief Executive Erin Madeley.
Union members, from both the MEAA and Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents technology and control systems staff at the ABC, are also seeking increased protections against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to replace journalists, ensuring that automated technologies do not undermine editorial integrity or public trust.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks said the current pay offer was “sustainable and financially responsible,” refuting the unions’ claims of job insecurity. Management is beginning an application to Australia’s Fair Work Commission to mediate the dispute.
MEAA Chief Executive, Erin Madeley, said: “I congratulate our brave members at the ABC for standing up for secure jobs, fair treatment and quality journalism – but they should never have been pushed to this point. Investing in the people behind the ABC is essential to protecting a public broadcaster that belongs to all Australians.”
The IFJ said: “The IFJ stands in full solidarity with the MEAA and our colleagues at the ABC who have shown great courage in their fight for decent wages and job security. Quality journalism cannot be sustained when media workers are forced to shoulder the burden of stagnant pay, increasing workloads, and uncertainty amid the rapid integration of AI technologies. IFJ calls on ABC management to swiftly re-engage with staff to reach a fair and sustainable agreement.” (IFJ)