Nine journalists to strike on Paris Olympics opener if deal can’t be reached with management
Nine Publishing journalists are set to strike on Friday, coinciding with the opening weekend of the Paris Olympic Games, if management fails to finalise a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
The decision comes after Nine Publishing refused to meet demands for a fair wage increase above CPI, a diversity pay audit, quotas, protections against AI misuse, and adherence to the MEAA freelance charter of rights.
Last Friday, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) said that union members would take industrial action this week, and on Monday evening, the group confirmed that that action will be a strike if it can’t reach a deal with management.
This move follows Nine Publishing’s recent announcement of 90 job cuts, and the acquisition of Olympic broadcast rights for an estimated $100 million.
The strike, which will impact the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times, and WAtoday, will last five days. The action was approved by MEAA members, with over 90% supporting the strike in a protected action ballot.
In a statement, the MEAA, which will meet with Nine management on Wednesday, said the media giant needs to invest in its editorial front line ahead of its financial bottom line.
“The company’s pay offer fails to acknowledge cost of living pressures and management has not dealt with other claims from journalists, including a genuine commitment to better workplace gender and cultural diversity, improvements to grade progression and protection through consultation in relation to AI.
“The decision to go on strike was not made lightly as an event like the Olympics only comes along once every four years. Members regret the disruption the industrial action may cause. We urge [the] management of Nine Publishing to resolve the issues in the bargaining meeting on Wednesday.”
A Nine spokesperson told Mumbrella: “We intend to proceed with the meeting we agreed to with the MEAA this Wednesday, where we will continue to negotiate in good faith with the bargaining committee.”
Last month, Nine Publishing journalists’ union members passed a motion of no confidence in CEO Mike Sneesby following the announcement of 200 job cuts due to economic challenges and lost revenue from Meta’s failure to renew news deals.
Meanwhile, per The Australian, Sneesby was seen carrying the Olympic torch through a French town ahead of the Olympics kicking off on Friday.
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Mike Sneesby emailed staff to tell them they were redundant, then went straight on holidays to Greece. Now staff are striking, he’s carrying the Olympic flame. Leadership.
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Nine Executives are in Paris doing hard yakka on the Champs Elysee
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Will anyone notice?
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