Staff at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age begin five-day strike

More than 500 editorial staff at one of Australia’s major media outlets have gone on strike over pay and conditions as Nine insists the walkout will not impact its Paris Olympics coverage.

Journalists employed by Nine Publishing – including union members covering the Games in Paris - began a five-day strike on Friday after rejecting management’s revised enterprise bargaining offer.

Striking workers outside Nine’s offices in Melbourne on Friday.Credit: AAPIMAGE

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) members from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, the Brisbane Times and WAtoday walked off the job at 11am AEST.

After months-long negotiations, union members rejected the company’s latest offer, saying it “fails to include a fair pay rise that keeps ahead of the cost of living”.

In an update to staff this morning, Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby urged a return to talks.

“We’re profoundly disappointed by this decision as we have offered a new and improved agreement yesterday and were negotiating in good faith to a constructive outcome,” he said.

“While we recognise the right of unions to take industrial action, (managing director Tory Maguire) and I firmly believe a return to the negotiating table is the best pathway to progressing the EBA.

“We are committed to continuing to work in good faith with the MEAA and bargaining committees to deliver a new agreement that is fair and supports a sustainable future for the Publishing business.”

Sneesby said the company had plans in place to cover the Paris Olympics.

“Our editorial teams will seamlessly deliver the best coverage for our audiences, so they have the news they want, when they want it and as it happens in Paris,” he said.

Union official Michelle Rae said on Thursday that Nine journalists were being asked to do more for less.

“Journalists have asked for a modest wage increase in line with the CPI after foregoing any pay rise during COVID and at a time when the company is making record profits,” she said.

Nine in June confirmed it would cut 200 roles, or about four per cent of its almost 5000 staff – a decision it attributed to the loss of a lucrative content deal with Meta and a slump in advertising.

About 90 of the roles to be made redundant are from the publishing division, with about 50 from the metropolitan publishing arm which includes the state-based papers, but not The Australian Financial Review. The company has offered three weeks for staff to apply for voluntary redundancies. The redundancies are separate from the EBA negotiations, which are the subject of the strikes.

However, management has said that higher wage claims, particularly in the first year of the EBA, could lead to deeper cuts.

“It’s totally unacceptable the company is asking workers to make a choice between a modest pay rise and the possibility of more job cuts,” Rae said.

With AAP

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