Today, employees were informed that 60% of them have rejected a proposed enterprise agreement. The proposal included a 10% salary increase spread over three years and a $1,000 sign-on bonus.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) announced that the vote saw more than 75% participation from staff. This decision followed prolonged discussions between ABC management and various unions.

As a result of the vote, a legally sanctioned 24-hour strike is set to commence at 11 am on Wednesday.

According to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), over 90% of the voting staff have endorsed the industrial action.

The authorized measures include the possibility of unlimited work stoppages, though emergency broadcasts will not be affected.

Erin Madeley, CEO of MEAA, highlighted that the proposed $1,000 one-time payment wouldn’t be incorporated into base salaries, wouldn’t include superannuation, and would exclude casual employees.

“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,” Madeley said.

“This isn’t just a workforce issue. When skilled, experienced staff are forced out, communities lose trusted local voices, particularly in regional Australia where the ABC is often the only local newsroom.”

The MEAA has called on ABC management to put forward an offer that “reflects the value of ABC staff and protects the future of Australia’s public broadcaster”.

The ABC employs about 4500 people.

Around 1000 employees participated in the ballot for protected industrial action.

“CPSU members do not vote for strike action lightly. The fact that so many union members have taken this step demonstrates how frustrated they are at this process,” ABC Section Secretary Jocelyn Gammie said.

“ABC staff work hard to provide high quality services for the Australian community. They deserve to be treated with respect and that means a decent pay offer and fair agreement.”

“The last thing union members want to do is inconvenience loyal ABC audiences by disrupting programming and services, but key bargaining claims remain unresolved,” Gammie added.

“Unless the ABC put a fair offer on the table, disruptions are inevitable.”

The last major industrial action to take place at the broadcaster was in 2006, when ABC staff stopped work nationwide for 24 hours.

In a statement shared with nine.com.au, ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks said he believed the revised offer was “sustainable and financially responsible”.

“I understand that in the current climate higher pay would help many individuals, but we must also remain focused on the long-term sustainability of the ABC and its relevance to all Australians,” Marks said.

“It is a balance. No one has provided any evidence to me to suggest ABC staff are paid less than industry standards.”

Marks also refuted claims of job insecurity at the ABC and said demands of salary progression based on tenure would not be supported by management.

“Of course there are individual examples of poor experiences with the ABC, particularly at an entry level but, as a general rule, lack of security of employment at the ABC is not accurate,” he said.

“The ABC wants to move to a system that reflects rewarding staff based on their performance, rather than automatically progressing due to tenure, as demanded by the unions.”

“We want an organisation that encourages personal and career development, ultimately with that investment benefiting our audiences.”

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