Union presses for vote on ABC industrial action

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, the union for editorial workers at the ABC, has applied to the Fair Work Commission to conduct a ballot among members.

The ballot will canvas a range of industrial action, including work restrictions, bans and strike action.

Members last year rejected an offer from ABC management of a 9% pay rise over three years and a one-off payment of $750.

MEAA Media Director Cassie Derrick said members believed industrial action was the only way to force ABC management back to the bargaining table after what the union views as months of stalling.

“ABC staff delivered a resounding No vote last year when management insisted on putting forward an insulting and inferior offer,” she said.

“Since then, management has refused to engage with members around key issues of a fair pay rise that keeps pace with cost of living, removing impediments to career progression for staff wherever they are based, and real action to increase gender and racial diversity and end pay inequity.

“The past few years have shown just how important the accurate and reliable reporting of ABC news staff is. We can’t let this be jeopardised by tight-fisted management.

“The ABC has been running on a business model of overwork, underpay and systemic inequality for a long time, but now there is an opportunity for a fresh approach by management under a government that has already provided more funding for the ABC after years of cuts.

“If ABC management won’t listen, then union members are preparing to take industrial action to deliver a just outcome for all staff.”