Thousands of ABC staff will down tools and walk off the job on Wednesday following the collapse of pay negotiations with management.
Staff are expected to walk out at 11am on Wednesday, shutting down any live broadcasts and potentially delaying the recording of various TV shows and other pieces of media.
The Community and Public Sector Union says its ABC members had “strongly rejected” the latest pay offer after “months of negotiations”.
“Unions had been urging staff to reject the draft agreement because it contains a low pay rise and fails to address concerns about the staff appraisals process, career progression, nightshift penalty rates and reproductive health leave,” the spokesman said.
In an email seen by NewsWire, ABC chief people officer Deena Amorelli told staff on Monday morning only 40 per cent of staff who voted on the new pay agreement were in favour of it.
ABC CPSU section secretary Jocelyn Gammie said members didn’t take the choice to strike “lightly”.
The last major strike at the ABC was in 2006 when staff walked out for 24 hours.
“The fact that so many union members have taken this step demonstrates how frustrated they are at this process,” she 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.
“Unless the ABC put a fair offer on the table, disruptions are inevitable.”
The MEAA, which also represents ABC staff, has been contacted for comment.
The push for better pay comes three weeks after staff at the SBS voted against a proposed enterprise agreement by management.
After forcing management back to the negotiating table, SBS union members say they were able to wrest a $1500 bonus on top of a three per cent annual pay rise.
They also received increased casual loading, expanded parental and foster carers leave, new gender affirmation leave for staff going through transition, and payment for any AI voice cloning.
More to come
