In a significant move, numerous ABC journalists and staff members are set to stage a walkout this week over a pay disagreement, potentially halting live radio and television broadcasts for an entire day.
The planned work stoppage will commence on Wednesday at 11 a.m., following a decision by 60 percent of the workforce to reject the latest salary proposal from the national broadcaster.
ABC’s Chief People Officer, Deena Amorelli, communicated the outcome of the recent vote regarding the enterprise agreement on Monday morning. The proposal was narrowly defeated by a margin of 395 votes.
Amorelli revealed in an email to employees that out of the 75.6 percent of staff who participated in the vote, a significant 60 percent opposed the offer.
This marks the first instance in two decades where ABC employees have resorted to a strike over a major pay conflict, with the 24-hour cessation expected to heavily impact broadcasting operations.
On March 20, ABC journalist Ahmed Yussuf expressed on social media platform X that he and his colleagues are advocating for improved compensation, citing that their roles have become increasingly “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
Staff reportedly sent 500 handwritten messages to ABC’s Managing Director, Hugh Marks, detailing their awful experiences working at the broadcaster
Daniel Ziffer, who covers business issues and is a fill-in finance presenter on ABC’s national bulletins, said many staff live in fear while working on rolling, short-term, insecure, and ‘often low-paid’ contracts.
‘These are staff – both behind the scenes and leading the coverage on your TV and radio – who can’t plan their lives. You’d know many of their faces and voices but many of them can’t get rentals or car loans,’ Mr Ziffer said.
‘If they secure housing, they often don’t know if they’ll be able to pay the rent next month. They’re on Day Zero contracts where they only discover their fate on the final day. They can’t plan their lives. Management knows this.’
Mr Ziffer said staff had hand-written 500 messages to the ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, that detailed their ‘wrenching’ stories about poor treatment and tough conditions at the broadcaster.
‘People unable to raise the alarm on bullying and harassment because of their insecure employment,’ he said.
‘Staff sleeping on fold-out couches in living rooms because of their low wages. Women saying it was “impossible” to plan a family through rolling short-term contracts.
‘We keep losing talented people. We fail to recruit more diverse staff. Work intensification leads to burnout. Many staff live in fear.’
Two unions represent ABC staff – the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).
Daniel Ziffer, who presents on ABC’s national bulletins, said many staff live in fear
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.
