ABC staff push for six per cent pay increase

While talk of a strike is not on the table, ABC union members have contacted management to air their concerns as part of current negotiations.

ABC managing director David Anderson and chair Ita Buttrose. Picture: Ryan Osland

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has taken aim at the ABC over its pay offer to staff, as negotiations over a new wage deal for the national broadcaster’s employees grind on.

ABC management is offering staff a 3 per cent per annum wage rise as part of enterprise bargaining negotiations, plus a 40 per lift to “district allowances” paid to reporters and staff in “isolated locations” to cover the higher cost of working in the ­region or rural locations.

The MEAA and Community and Public Sector Union, which represents staff at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster, is pushing for a 6 per cent wage rise and lift to superannuation contributions to 15.4 per cent.

MEAA media director Adam Portelli said the ABC “must recognise the enormous contributions staff have made in keeping the public informed”.

“ABC staff have been telling management about their very real concerns about unfair pay, unreasonable workloads and regional and other inequities at the national broadcaster,” Mr Portelli said.

“Management‘s offer of a 3 per cent per annum wage rise for three years represents a significant real wage cut and does not provide for career progression or address members’ fundamental concerns.”

Earlier this month, Nine Publishing, which covers the SMH, AFR, The Age, The Brisbane Times, and WAtoday, secured a 4 per cent wage rise.

Union members at Nine Publishing had threatened to strike after their wage claim of a 5.5 per cent increase per annum was ­rejected by the company.

ABC staff are also seeking to push the broadcaster into allowing more casual and contract employees to convert to permanent roles.

In October last year, the ABC reported 730 casual or part-time staff, out of the total workforce of 3755.

While talk of a strike is not on the table, ABC union members have contacted management to air their concerns as part of ­current negotiations.

The MEAA is also pushing the ABC to conduct a pay audit of its male and female staff.

In September last year, the ABC discovered $12m worth of underpayments to staff who had been incorrectly classified or had remained recorded as “entry level” and paid less than they were entitled to for working overtime.

The ABC declined to ­comment.