ABC Staff Strike Continues, Management Showing “No Respect” For Union Members

Sydney, Australia - October 18, 2014: The ABC Ultimo Centre, the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Tom Fogden
By Tom Fogden



Unionised ABC staff have continued their strike action over pay and the progression of junior journalists.

Updated: 23/3/23 with clarification on MEAA’s industrial action.

Members of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) had filed notice to walk out for two one-hour periods today in an attempt to pressure management.

However, while MEAA members had called off the strike last night after reaching an in-principle agreement with management, it appears that CPSU members have continued their action, with the first walkout happening between 7-8 am AEDST.

A second walkout from CPSU members will happen between 3-4 pm.

“CPSU members are walking off the job today to send a message to ABC management that they are angry about the way ABC management have approached the bargaining process, and the lack of respect they’ve demonstrated for unions and union members,” said Sinddy Ealy, CPSU ABC Section Secretary.

“This is a reflection of the way ABC management have behaved throughout the entire process. They have dug their heels in at every possible point, even when it was at the detriment of the ABC as a whole, and CPSU members have had enough.

“Union members in the ABC are taking protected industrial action because they care about the future of the ABC and because they know that these conditions are worth fighting for,” added Ealy.

The members had achieved pay rises totalling 11 per cent over three years, backdated of 1 October last year, plus a $1,500 signing bonus.

“Management has also agreed to conduct a transparent audit of the gender and CALD pay gap, to fix the broken buyout system, and to put in place a new pathway for career progression for early and mid-career journalists,” said MEAA media director Cassie Derrick, yesterday.

“Clearly, the threat of industrial action has helped to focus ABC’s management’s mind, as has the outpouring of support for our members from ABC viewers and listeners.

“It was a turning point to have managing director David Anderson directly involved in negotiations after management stonewalled for months.”

MEAA confirmed to B&T that its members did not walk out after the pay deal was secured.




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