An ABC television presenter has leveraged the network’s platform to call for a salary increase and highlight specific workplace demands, coinciding with a rare strike by the national broadcaster.

For the first time in two decades, ABC employees commenced a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, beginning at 11 a.m. AEDT. The staff are advocating for a more favorable pay proposal and enhanced working conditions. Their grievances include the prevalent use of short-term contracts, limited opportunities for career advancement, and a wage offer that fails to keep pace with inflation.

At the stroke of 11 a.m., the ABC’s 24-hour news channel switched to a BBC America broadcast, leaving empty desks visible behind host Gemma Veness as she informed viewers of the strike action.

As a result, the network’s programming schedule has been significantly disrupted for the day. Instead of the usual 7 p.m. news bulletin on the main channel, audiences will see a rerun of Australian Story. The flagship current-affairs show, 7.30, is being replaced by a repeat of Hard Quiz.

ABC employees have also seized the opportunity to voice their demands on-air. During Tuesday’s broadcast of The World, ABC presenter Girish Sawlani publicly advocated for salary increases for his fellow staff members.

ABC staff have also used the broadcaster’s own airwaves to level their demands. During Tuesday’s edition of The World, ABC presenter Girish Sawlani pushed for his colleagues to get pay rises. 

‘The show will look a bit different tomorrow, we will be off air because my colleagues and I will be on strike,’ he said.

‘We’re asking ABC management to deliver secure, safe and sustainable jobs so we can deliver the news and content you deserve.

ABC presenter Girish Sawlani advocated for his own pay increase on Tuesday’s edition of the The World

‘But they are falling short of offering fair pay and conditions.’

Moments before the strike began, in a shot showing mostly empty desks, Ms Veness told viewers: ‘The ABC is planning to continue delivering some services and emergency broadcasting will not be affected by the strike.’ 

ABC News Breakfast host James Glenday confirmed on air that his show would not be broadcast on Thursday due to the strike.

Some other radio programming is set to be replaced by BBC content.

On-air revolt 

On-air presenters, including those set to strike, had begun using their platform to inform viewers about the industrial action on Tuesday.

‘(Wednesday’s) programming will look a little bit different … my colleagues and I are going to be on strike,’ ABC Canberra radio host Alice Matthews said on air.

‘We’re asking ABC management to make sure our pay grows, at the very least, in line with (inflation), among a few other things related to job security and AI.’  

ABC staff at the Canberra bureau were pictured walking off the job on Wednesday morning

ABC staff across the nation downed tools for the first time in 20 years

Large gatherings were expected outside ABC offices nationwide, including Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, during the 24-hour strike. 

The Community and Public Sector Union and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance are representing staff taking action.

‘We’ve been in bargaining for a long time now with the ABC and what we want to see is a pay off that reflects cost-of-living pressures and actually respects the really important work that the ABC do,’ CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly told the Australian Associated Press.

‘ABC plays such an important role in our society and in Australian storytelling and it’s really important ABC management come to the table.’

Public backlash 

Viewers Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson has slammed ABC presenters who hijacked news programs to ‘covey false information’ and spruik Wednesday’s strike, which she branded as an absolute disgrace.

‘There has never been a more important time in this country when we need ABC journalists and other content makers to be out in the field informing Australians,’ she told reporters in Canberra.

‘We have a fuel crisis, we have a cost-of-living crisis, and in the Northern Territory and Northern Queensland many communities have been hit by cyclones and floods.

‘I’m also incredibly concerned that ABC presenters are hijacking news programs to convey false information about this dispute. This is completely unacceptable.

Some ABC presenters are saying this is not a fair deal, prosecuting their own case on air, which breaches their impartiality obligations.

‘Shame on ABC staff who made this decision. Australians deserve much better.’

What the ABC strike is about 

About 60 per cent of ABC staff rejected management’s previous offer that included a 10-per-cent pay rise across three years.

The unions are also demanding greater night-shift penalty rates, reproductive health leave and rules relating to artificial intelligence.

‘Experienced journalists and media workers are being asked to do more with less – with fewer opportunities for pay progression, less certainty about their future, and growing workloads,’ MEAA chief executive Erin Madeley said.

The union urged Aussies to show their support by not engaging with ABC content. 

‘This means no clicks on social content and no visits to the ABC website,’ a MEAA post read.

It is the broadcaster’s first major strike since 2006.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks said the offered pay deal was financially responsible and competitive for the industry.

‘The average tenure of an ABC staff member is more than 10 years, which is three times the economy average … over 90 per cent of ABC staff are ongoing employees,’ Mr Marks said.

‘The pay offer reflects the maximum level the ABC can sustainably provide and is balanced when looking across all the factors that we need to consider.’

More than 4,400 people work at the ABC, including 2,000 in news, the largest division.