Journalists at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation plan a 24-hour strike starting Wednesday, protesting pay below inflation and fears of AI replacing jobs.
Hundreds of journalists at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will walk off the job on Wednesday in the first strike in 20 years, protesting pay offers below inflation and the potential use of AI to replace staff.
Strike Details and Demands
The strike begins at 11:00 local time (00:00 GMT) and lasts 24 hours, with large gatherings planned at ABC's main offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Participants will wear black to show solidarity.
Staff rejected a management offer of a 10% pay rise over three years, which includes 3.5% in the first year and 3.25% in each of the next two years, plus a one-off $1,000 bonus for non-casual employees. Australia's inflation rate stood at 3.8% in January, making the offer less than needed to keep up with living costs.
Union members, with 60% voting against the deal, are demanding higher rates for night work, better career progression, reduced reliance on short-term contracts, and limits on AI to protect jobs and editorial integrity.
Erin Madeley, chief executive of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, stated that staff want fair pay, secure employment, and safeguards for technologies like AI to maintain public trust. Melissa Donnelly from the Community and Public Sector Union emphasized the need for salaries that reflect cost-of-living pressures and recognize the role of public broadcasting.
Impact and Management Response
Flagship programs such as the 7.30 evening current affairs show and breakfast broadcasts will not air live on Thursday, replaced by reruns, pre-programmed content, and BBC material. Radio services like Triple J and ABC Classic will feature limited live elements, focusing mainly on music.
ABC employs over 4,400 people, with about 2,000 in its news division. Managing director Hugh Marks described the pay offer as financially responsible and the maximum the organization can sustain, noting it is competitive within the industry.
The ABC plans to escalate the dispute to Australia's Fair Work Commission to seek resolution, as unions push for improved conditions amid ongoing negotiations.
