Nine execs make eleventh-hour offer, and ‘remain hopeful of a resolution’ as staff strike looms
Nine has offered its disgruntled journalists what it deems “a new and improved proposal”, as MEAA confirmed that industrial action began this morning.
Yesterday, MEAA representatives met with Nine management, but were unable to strike a deal.
Mark Phillips, MEAA’s communications director, told Mumbrella they were “willing to meet again today if management wants to,” adding that “the ball is in management’s court to make an improved offer to staff that addresses not only pay, but workplace diversity, the use of AI and the conditions under which freelancers are employed.”
Nine has since confirmed to Mumbrella that an improved offer was made this morning.
“Today we have put a new and improved proposal to the bargaining committee and the newsroom floor that represents a fair and reasonable offer for our people,” a Nine spokesperson told Mumbrella.
“We continue to negotiate in good faith and remain hopeful of a resolution.”
Phillips told Mumbrella that “industrial action began this morning, with members taking protected action by using social media to inform readers about the EBA deadlock.”
A five-day strike is still scheduled to begin on Friday morning, at 11am.
“Rallies are being planned outside each of Nine’s offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth at the same time as members walk off the job,” Phillips said.
The action was launched, in part, as a response to news that Nine will axe between 70 and 90 roles from the publishing division, impacting the newsrooms of the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times, and WAtoday.
The strike was overwhelmingly approved by MEAA members, with over 90% supporting the action during a protected action ballot last Friday.
MEAA said the decision to go on strike “was not made lightly, as an event like the Olympics only comes along once every four years.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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