Thousands of ABC journalists and staff members will walk off the job this week in a pay dispute that could potentially shut down live radio and television shows for up to 24 hours.
Staff will down tools on Wednesday morning at 11am after 60 per cent of workers voted against the national broadcaster’s latest pay offer.
The ABC’s chief people officer, Deena Amorelli, informed staff of the results of the vote on the latest enterprise offer on Monday morning, which fell short by 395 votes.
In an email to staff, Amorelli confirmed of the 75.6 per cent of ABC staff who voted, 60 per cent of them voted against the offer.
It will mark the first time in two decades since ABC staff walked off the job over a major pay dispute, with the 24-hour walk off causing severe disruptions to its broadcast operations.
In a post on X on March 20, ABC journalist, Ahmed Yussuf, said he and his colleagues were fighting for a better deal as their jobs had become ‘insecure and unsustainable.’
‘Before becoming a permanent staff member at the ABC, I had about nine contracts in the space of three years with contracts spanning between 10 months, to as short as one month,’ Mr Yussuf said.
‘I am among the lucky ones who has been able to find permanent stable employment not all my colleagues have been. It’s [meant] we’ve lost so many talented people who cannot sustain that insecurity.’
Staff will walk off the job on Wednesday at 11am after workers voted against the latest pay offer
Hannah Story, who writes for the ABC’s Arts division, said she’s seen firsthand just how precarious jobs are at the broadcaster.
‘Since I started with the ABC on a short-term contract five years ago, my team has been restructured out of existence — not once, but twice,’ Ms Story posted on X.
‘Twice the ABC has made explicit how little it values specialist arts and entertainment journalism and the dedicated people who make it.’
Two unions represent ABC staff – the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).
It’s understood CPSU members have endorsed a range of industrial actions including work bans, stoppages and a 24-hour strike.
Members of the MEAA have also strongly supported a protection action ballot.
‘The fact that so many union members have taken this step demonstrates how frustrated they are at this process,’ Jocelyn Gammie, Secretary of CPSU’s ABC section, said.
‘The last thing union members want to do is inconvenience loyal ABC audiences by disrupting programming and services, but key bargaining claims remain unresolved. Unless the ABC put a fair offer on the table, disruptions are inevitable.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the ABC for comment.
More to come.
