ABC staff have struck an enterprise agreement with the broadcaster, bringing an end to a pay dispute that culminated in a 24-hour strike.
In March, more than 1,000 journalists and staff walked out on the broadcaster for 24 hours following a vote that rejected the original offer. The updated enterprise agreement ensures new provisions for staff to progress through pay bandings, and increased pay above inflation for year one of the three-year agreement.
Share article ABC staff have voted to accept an enterprise agreement with the broadcaster, bringing an end to a pay dispute that culminated in a 24-hour strike. The two unions representing ABC staff — the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and Community and Public Sector Union — said more than 90 per cent of participating staff voted for a 10.5 per cent pay rise over three years and back pay to October 2025.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks said the broadcaster was in a position to move forward with confidence across the next few years.
"This represents an opportunity for the organisation to work more effectively across management, staff and staff representatives, including the unions, on a cohesive approach to the ABC of the future — a united and forward-looking organisation focused on serving all Australians," he said in a statement. AAP: Dean LewinsMEAA chief executive Erin Madeley said the decisive yes vote reflected the determination and unity of ABC workers across the country.
"This is a tremendous victory for ABC staff who stood together and took courageous action to protect their livelihoods, their professions and the future of public broadcasting," Ms Madeley said. "By withdrawing their labour, workers showed just how central they are to the ABC and to the quality independent journalism Australians rely on every day. "Secure, experienced and diverse staff are essential for an ABC that serves communities across Australia, especially in regional areas.
" CPSU ABC section secretary Jocelyn Gammie said the deal was a "significant achievement that is a result of 24-hour industrial action". The updated ABC offer includes new provisions to ensure staff progress through pay bandings.
"ABC staff do important work in ensuring Australians are kept up to date with breaking news, and in creating engaging content. They inform and educate and it's only fair we value them properly," she said in a statement. The updated enterprise agreement offer ensured new provisions to see staff progress through pay bandings, and increased pay above inflation for year one of the three-year agreement.
Unions had argued the previous offer of 3.5 per cent in the first year was inadequate because it was below inflation. Clauses protecting journalist jobs from artificial intelligence are not addressed in the latest offer. Following a vote that rejected the original offer, more than 1,000 journalists and staff walked out on March 25 for 24 hours.
It prompted Mr Marks to apologise to audiences, and resulted in the ABC broadcasting BBC content, re-runs, and members' statements in federal parliament to fill the void. Fair Work Commission steps in The revised offer was made to staff on March 31, following a Fair Work Commission-mediated session with Mr Marks and union representatives.
The accepted offer retracted a previously proposed $1,000 bonus, but increased a pay rise in the first year to 4 per cent, followed by 3.25 per cent in the subsequent two years. Mr Marks had previously argued the rise, which amounted to 10 per cent over three years, was financially responsible and competitive with industry standards. The morning after the 24-hour strike, he told ABC Radio the pay rise proposed by unions was "unmanageable".
"I think both sides need to say, 'You know what, the audience comes first and we need to stop playing games and focus on that and get to an outcome,'" he said. MEAA deputy chief executive officer Adam Portelli later described the accusation of playing games as "insulting".
"It's really insulting to the ABC staff and disrespectful to the role they provide to the Australian community," he told ABC Radio. "ABC staff do not think this is a game … they're in this position because they felt like they had no choice after nine long months of negotiations. " Ms Madeley said the approved agreement sent a "powerful message that Australians value their ABC" and thanked the public for supporting the campaign.
Abc Staff Dispute Pay Conditions Strike Negotiations Negotiations Agreement Abc Staff Reach Pay Agreement Abc Enterprise Agreement Reached Abc Staff Strike Fair Work Commission
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