Nine Entertainment staff to walk off the job amid pay dispute during Olympics coverage

Nine’s publishing division is set for disarray over the next five days after staff voted to walk off the job, with strike action to include those covering the Olympics in Paris.

Nine Entertainment’s publishing division is set for disarray over the next five days after staff voted to walk off the job from Friday following a breakdown in negotiations over pay and job security.

Nine has the broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games and the strike action will include hundreds of staff and also impact journalists sent from Australia to Paris who will stop work while in the French capital.

The Australian has been told some reporters in Paris are “furious” about the strike action taking place while they are on assignment to cover the significant sporting event.

Members of the media union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WAtoday will begin strike action at 11am AEST on Friday.

It is expected staff will hold a protest out the front of Nine’s headquarters in Melbourne and Sydney on Friday.

The unionised staff rejected a pay rise of 10.5 per cent over three years – they were asking for 20 per cent over this period.

The strike action also comes after Nine chief executive officer Mike Sneesby recently announced 200 job cuts across the business including 70 to 90 redundancies in its publishing division.

Just this week The Australian reported that many journalists were “unimpressed” after seeing footage of Mr Sneesby parading through the French streets wearing white attire while jogging with the Olympic torch.

Staff were ‘unimpressed’ to see Mr Sneesby carrying the Olympic torch. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

Nine publishing boss Tory Maguire addressed staff in person in both Sydney and Melbourne on Thursday.

MEAA director of media, Michelle Rae criticised Mr Sneesby for his actions in Paris and demanded he focus on keeping journalism jobs, not cutting them.

“It is extra galling to our members that while they are attempting to negotiate a new enterprise agreement and dealing with the stress of redundancies in an Australian winter, managing director Mike Sneesby is enjoying sunny France as he takes part in the Olympic torch relay,” she said.

“Our members have a simple message to Mr Sneesby: get your priorities right and don’t torch journalism.

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

A Nine spokeswoman said on Thursday it was “disappointing the union has elected to proceed with industrial action”.

“We can confirm comprehensive plans are in place to ensure the production and distribution of Nine publishing mastheads will not be impacted and our readers will continue to have access to unrivalled coverage of the Paris Olympics,” she said.

“Nine recognises the rights of unions to take industrial action but believe that a return to the negotiating table is the best way to progress the EBA.

“With our new and improved proposal representing a fair and reasonable offer for our people, we remain open to resuming good faith negotiations at the earliest opportunity.”

The MEAA has about 500 members from Nine’s publishing division.

Nine’s share price closed at $1.40 on Thursday.