ABC employees have rejected a 9 per cent pay rise over three years

A majority of staff at the public broadcaster have voted to reject the pay offer and have demanded a bigger increase.

ABC staff want 6 per cent per year over three years as well as other changes to working conditions.

A majority of ABC employees have rejected a pay offer by management that would give them an extra 9 per cent pay over three years.

The media union, the Media, Arts and Entertainment Alliance, on Thursday evening emailed members to confirm it had received 3930 votes about the proposed pay deal and that 72.8 per cent had rejected the offer.

The note by MEAA media director Cassie Derrick said: “ABC staff rejected management’s unfair offer in huge numbers.

“Congratulations! You stood together to fight for an ABC that staff and the public deserve, with sustainable careers, fair conditions and equal opportunities.

“This is a huge step towards a better deal, but it’s not yet over.”

The nine-day vote, which closed on Wednesday, asked employees whether they agreed to the 9 per cent pay rise of which was 3.5 per cent in year one, 3 per cent in year two and 2.5 per cent in the third year.

It included a $750 one-off payment to employees.

ABC staff are instead calling for annual 6 per cent pay rises for the next three years and other measures, including career progression through pay bands and more flexible working hours – this includes measures such as working 38 hours over a four-day week.

The MEAA is also asking that staff have a fairer system for payment of overtime.

In recent weeks many staff have been vocal about rejecting the pay offer, posting images on social media, including holding up “no” signs” and baking cupcakes with “no” written on top in icing.

The MEAA bargaining team has written to ABC management to try to schedule another meeting with the public broadcaster.