ABC Radio National staff pass no-confidence motion against management
ABC Radio National staff have moved a no-confidence motion against management over the recent radio cuts, according to a report on Radioinfo.
The changes to ABC Radio has seen RN’s creative audio and features and documentaries units merge, impacting jobs, with shows such as Sunday Nights with John Cleary axed.
According to Radioinfo, more than 60 Radio National staff met at the ABC’s Ultimo office yesterday, unanimously passing a motion of no confidence citing “systemic failure” in senior radio management and “the erosion of the editorial and managerial responsibilities of executive producers”.
In the motion, staff expressed concern over four separate areas:
This meeting of Radio National staff in ABC Ultimo wish to express our lack of confidence in the senior management of ABC Radio in regards to:
- The continuing erosion of specialist programming in music, features and religion is a serious breach of the ABC Charter and a disservice to the Australian audiences that the ABC is funded to serve.
- A systemic failure on the part of the senior radio management to genuinely engage or listen to the professional advice of Radio National staff about major change including the recently announced cuts to ABC jobs and programs.
- The unnecessary introduction of inefficient and additional layers of senior radio management in program areas – we need staff who actually make programs not more managers.
- The erosion of the editorial and managerial responsibilities of executive producers and content directors.
We call on ABC section secretary Sinddy Ealy from the Community and Public Sector Union to immediately convey our concerns to the ABC’s managing director Michelle Guthrie, and to the ABC staff elected director Matthew Peacock.
An ABC spokesperson told Mumbrella: “ABC Radio has made changes to its line-up for 2017 to reinvest in new content rather than to cut costs. Following yesterday’s meeting we are continuing the process of staff consultation.”
The CPSU has been approached for comment.
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
Linkedin
Same old, same old.
The changes look good to me.
What a stupid and facile approach to the current media landscape this union is taking.
Keep going …. Adams and Williams are like a double dose of Mogadon.
The music belongs on FM or digital and is out of place on RN.
Can’t wait to see the words “dumbing down” which is exactly what the Libs are trying to do.
It’s always pulled out at times like this.
Religion! I read that there is a new religious program coming to RN?
If management want to take power from executive producers then they will need to change their task descriptions. Have they done that?
Keep going….we keep reading that jobs for life are a thing of the past.
The union has a job to do (and I am a strong believer in them) but the world is changing and RN will need to keep up.l
User ID not verified.