A major five-day strike at Nine Publishing will proceed from Friday as journalists reject what they deem an inadequate offer from management.
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) confirmed that members at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times, and Watoday will walk off the job at 11am on Friday.
The strike coincides with the opening weekend of the Paris Olympic Games and comes amid ongoing disputes between the staff and management, centred around issues such as working conditions and compensation.
“Journalists at Nine Publishing are being asked to do more for less,” said the acting director of MEAA Media, Michelle Rae.
“They are taking a stand for newsrooms that reflect the diversity of the communities they are reporting for, for ethical and transparent use of Artificial Intelligence, and for better wages.”
Rae said that Nine journalists have asked for a “modest wage increase in line with the CPI” after forgoing pay raises during COVID, while the company is now achieving record profits.
“It’s totally unacceptable that the company is asking workers to make a choice between a modest pay rise and the possibility of more job cuts after already announcing up to 90 redundancies in its publishing division which it has blamed on the end of its funding deal with Meta under the News Media Bargaining Code,” she said.
She continued: “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.
“Our members have a simple message to Mr Sneesby: get your priorities right and don’t torch journalism.”
Following the announcement, Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter Dan Walsh posted on X that he would love to be covering his first Olympics but “we’ve got a few things to sort out first”.
“70-90 redundancies from a profitable section of the business, no hint of exec bonuses being given up, laughably stingy EBA talks and Scott Cam being put up in a five-star Paris hotel?” the post read.
Nine CEO Mike Sneesby sent an email to staff this morning, from Paris, expressing his displeasure with the strike.
“It goes without saying we’re profoundly disappointed by this decision as we have offered a new and improved agreement yesterday and were negotiating in good faith to a constructive outcome,” the email read.
“While we recognise the right of unions to take industrial action, Tory [Maguire] and I firmly believe a return to the negotiating table is the best pathway to progressing the EBA.
“We have endeavoured to avert the industrial action, we have been preparing for the prospect of prolonged industrial action.
“We are well positioned to ensure our mastheads are produced and distributed for our loyal readers. Our editorial teams will seamlessly deliver the best coverage for our audiences, so they have the news they want, when they want it and as it happens in Paris.”
Sneesby said that Nine is “continuing to work in good faith with the MEEA and bargaining committees to deliver a new agreement that is fair and supports a sustainable future for the Publishing business.”
A Nine spokesperson told Mumbrella: “While it is 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.
“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.”
Mumbrella broke the news on Thursday morning that MEAA representatives were were unable to strike a deal with Nine before the media giant put a “new and improved” proposal on the table.
