Guardian Australia staff secure big wins after industrial action

MEAA members at Guardian Australia have voted to accept a significantly improved offer after strong industrial action forced management back to the table.

Following a decisive protected action ballot, with over 95% of participants  voting “yes” to every question, staff engaged in collective action by changing their email signatures to inform the public of the industrial dispute.

The new three-year enterprise agreement includes:

•  A pay rise of 5.25% in the first year, 3.5% in the second year, and 3.25% in the third year.
•  Improved redundancy provisions.
•  Gender and cultural diversity pay gap audits.
•  A commitment to consult with staff on the use of AI in the workplace.
•  Enhancements to performance reviews and career development opportunities.
•  A commitment to review grading classifications.

While members welcome these substantial improvements, they expressed disappointment that it took industrial action to prompt meaningful engagement from management on union claims.

“This new offer ensures that we can continue to deliver quality public interest journalism, but it’s just the beginning of our fight for a fair and sustainable industry,”  said Michelle Rae, acting Director of MEAA Media.

“Collective action has delivered real wins that benefit not just journalists but the broader public who rely on their work. This outcome demonstrates the power of standing together, but it also highlights the need for continued vigilance in pushing for fair treatment of all workers, including freelancers.”

This is the fourth major enterprise bargaining agreement secured by MEAA this year, following successful outcomes at Nine Publishing, AAP, and News Corp.