ABC job cuts: journalist union concerned over redundancy scheme

THE head of the journalists union says ABC management has used a forced redundancy scheme to unfairly target individuals.

The MEAA’s Christopher Warren discusses cuts at the ABC in Ultimo, Sydney.

THE head of the journalists union has accused the ABC’s middle management of using a forced redundancy scheme to unfairly target individuals.

Christopher Warren, national secretary of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said he had “deep concerns” about the process.

“We are particularly concerned that some managers are trying to use this process to target individuals or to shape things they want to rather than let people make up their own minds,” Mr Warren told The Australian.

Mr Warren, whose union will meet with ABC bosses on Thursday as part of the consultation process, said “managers are taking advantage of the circumstances”.

He expressed dismay about leaked documents showing state and territory newsrooms grouped into a “selection pool”.

In the document, staff roles are expressed as a “Number in Pool”, alongside a column identifying the number of redundancies under the heading “Proposed reduction”.

Mr Warren dubbed the document “insensitive”, adding it was “very concerning”.

ABC managing director Mark Scott yesterday announced 400 redundancies, the axing of Radio National’s bush Telegraph program, cuts to Newcastle radio staff, and the closure of five regional sites.

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Mr Warren also said voluntary redundancies should be considered mirroring big job cuts in recent years at commercial media organisations.

News Corp, publisher of The Australia, and Fairfax Media both introduced voluntary schemes to reduce their workforces as earnings came under pressure from structural challenges in the media sector, and lower demand from advertisers.

“Frankly I don’t believe that in the time frame they can do anything other than a voluntary redundancy round to achieve the goals that they want to achieve,” Mr Warren said.

“The only way that you can manage these sorts of change you need to deal with it through a voluntary process. It’s the only fair, effective and efficient way.

“The process is not going to work for them, us or the future of the ABC. What they need to know is who wants to stay, who wants to go and that allows them to make a better judgment on what they can and can’t do.”

The Australian is awaiting a response from the ABC.