Journalists at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will walk off the job on Wednesday for the first time in two decades, causing widespread disruption to the public broadcaster's news services for 24 hours. The protected industrial action involves staff represented by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which includes technology and control systems staff.
Without technical staff, producers, camera operators and directors, it will be almost impossible to air flagship programmes such as the prime-time current affairs show 7.30. Both unions have urged staff to reject a draft agreement offering a 10% total pay rise over three years, arguing it is too low and fails to address concerns about the staff appraisal process, career progression, night shift penalty rates and reproductive health leave.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks defended the offer, saying it “appropriately balanced” the needs of staff and audiences, and that a higher offer would put ABC content and services in “peril”. He noted that 90% of staff are ongoing employees and that leave provisions are generally more generous than many other major workplaces. However, 60% of ABC staff voted against the revised enterprise agreement on Sunday, which included a one-off $1,000 payment excluding casual staff.
Staff will strike from 11am Wednesday for 24 hours. The ABC’s combined national audience reach across television, radio and online was estimated at 65% of Australia’s population in 2023, meaning significant disruption is expected. The last ABC journalists’ strike was in 2006, when major TV and radio services were interrupted. Exemptions are in place for emergency broadcasting as ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle continues its path around north-west Australia.
Journalist Paige Cockburn, who has worked for the ABC for 10 years, posted on Instagram that she is on a temporary contract until the end of June and criticised management for “playing very dirty” in negotiations. CPSU section secretary Jocelyn Gammie said staff do not take strike action lightly but are frustrated, while MEAA chief executive Erin Madeley said members are standing up for secure jobs, fair treatment and quality journalism.
