ABC Stars Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb Absent from National Strike Over Pay Dispute
Two of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's most prominent figures, Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb, were conspicuously absent from the picket lines this week as the taxpayer-funded broadcaster faced a 24-hour strike. Over 1,000 ABC journalists and staff nationwide downed tools in a dispute over pay and conditions, but high-profile contractors like Sales and Crabb remained at work.
High-Profile Contractors Stay On the Job
Leigh Sales, the former 7.30 presenter who now hosts the weekly documentary series Australian Story, and political commentator Annabel Crabb, known for her innovative shows, did not participate in the industrial action. Sales is rumoured to earn approximately $400,000 annually, while Crabb reportedly receives around $220,000 per year. Other notable ABC personalities, including Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan and Weekend 7pm presenter Sabra Lane, also continued working rather than joining the strike.
In contrast, some high-paid contractors did show solidarity. Fran Kelly, presenter of The Radio National Hour, and Late Night Live host David Marr attended rallies wearing union t-shirts. The strike began on Wednesday after staff voted to reject a pay offer that proposed a 10 per cent wage increase over a three-year enterprise bargaining agreement.
Strike Action and Management Response
Hundreds of staff gathered outside the ABC's Ultimo offices in Sydney for a rally addressed by Fran Kelly, while in Melbourne, employees marched from the Southbank office to cheers from supporters. After the Sydney event, striking staff congregated at the Landsdowne Hotel, not the closest pub to the broadcaster's Harris Street headquarters.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks expressed frustration, stating it was "not a great time for our team to be out" due to global events like the fuel crisis and Middle East conflicts. Hours before the strike ended on Thursday, Marks remarked that staff had treated the industrial action as "a bit of a game," a comment labelled "utterly offensive" by union representatives. He later clarified, "I don’t think this is a game. I think this is really serious," adding that audiences were suffering from the disruption.
Impact on Programming and Ratings
During the strike, the ABC replaced many local shows with content from its British counterpart, the BBC. Regular programming on radio and TV networks took time to resume after the strike concluded at 11am on Thursday. Reports indicated that audiences deserted the ABC in droves, leading to a significant drop in ratings during the 24-hour walkout.
Sales and Crabb's Independent Podcast Ventures
Meanwhile, Sales and Crabb have been focusing on their independent podcast, Chat 10 Look 3, which has run for 12 years and attracts around 100,000 listeners weekly. In a recent plea to fans, they highlighted the increasing costs of running the podcast, noting that their busy ABC jobs and family commitments leave little time for fundraising through tours or merchandise.
To cover expenses, they are exploring new revenue streams, such as additional advertising and partnerships with luxury wellness company Nourish Travel. This includes offering "Chatter retreats," with Sales hosting one in the Adelaide Hills and Crabb planning another in the Gold Coast Hinterland in September. Attendees have praised these events, with one testimonial highlighting Sales' "generosity with her time and candid sharing of life experiences."
Background on the Pay Offer
The latest ABC pay offer included a 3.5 per cent increase in the first year, followed by 3.25 per cent in the subsequent two years, along with a $1,000 bonus. However, staff rejected this, leading to the first major strike at the broadcaster in two decades. The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between management and employees over fair compensation in a challenging media landscape.
