Seven Lambasted For Cost-Cutting Plan After Paying Big Money For Cricket Rights

Seven Lambasted For Cost-Cutting Plan After Paying Big Money For Cricket Rights
B&T Magazine
By B&T Magazine



Seven West Media (SWM) has been criticised over its plan to introduce pay cuts and shake up working conditions in an attempt to reduce costs.

Rupert Evans, deputy national president at the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), said in a statement that SWM management have told staff and unions it will be seeking major reductions in working conditions through negotiations around its enterprise agreement.

“The conditions that Seven is seeking to take the axe to are extremely important to our members working there, covering things such as redundancy provisions, shift rosters and penalty rates for working those shifts,” he said.

“Seven management has tried telling us they need to reduce their costs. Apparently, the company can afford to pay $1 billion dollars for the rights to screen the cricket but can’t afford to pay or treat its staff decently.

“CPSU members will stand up to keep what they’ve got in terms of working conditions, along with a modest pay rise. Their hard work has made Seven profitable in the past and their work will be key to the company’s fortunes in the future.”

It’s understood SWM revealed its intention to cut costs through enterprise negotiations two weeks after winning the broadcast rights to the cricket with Foxtel, which will see it pay $75 million per year for six years.

SWM declined to comment when contacted by B&T.




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