MEAA members lodge protected action ballot at Guardian Australia

Members of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance at Guardian Australia have today applied to the Fair Work Commission for a protected action ballot.  

Guardian Australia journalists are committed to providing quality journalism for the readers. They are taking the step of a protected action ballot to ensure sustainable and secure jobs, and transparency and accountability on diversity.

MEAA acting Media Director Michelle Rae said members were preparing to take action to ensure that quality journalism can continue to be produced at Guardian Australia and to secure a sustainable future for the industry.

“Lodging an application for protected industrial action is not something that members have done lightly, but they feel they have no choice after months of negotiations with management have failed to produce a satisfactory offer,” she said.

“All journalists at Guardian Australia are asking for is career progression, a commitment to better workplace gender and cultural diversity, and job security.

“Both in-house and freelance journalists are standing together so they can continue to deliver to the public the quality journalism for which Guardian Australia has become known since it arrived in Australia a decade ago.

“We urge Guardian management to come to the table with an offer that satisfies members’ modest demands.”

Guardian Australia House Committee statement: 

The prospect of taking industrial action is not one we consider lightly – we care about the Guardian and are committed to ongoing good-faith negotiation of sustainable working conditions for all staff and freelancers. These are not only financial; staff know Guardian Australia cherishes values of transparency, diversity and fairness. We believe these should be protected by an enterprise agreement and are reserving our right to fight for them. We are hopeful of an offer that gets us back to the table in a meaningful way.  

We believe in a strong Guardian – Australian journalism and democracy needs it.  

Solidarity statement from Guardian Australia freelance delegates:

Guardian freelancers pledge their full support for the campaign by in-house Guardian staff for a decent enterprise agreement. As a progressive publication, the Guardian has a responsibility to live its values. That means respecting all workers – permanent and precarious alike – and showing that respect with better pay and conditions. 

Solidarity statement from Guardian UK chapel:

The National Union of Journalists Guardian UK chapel offers its full support to our Australian colleagues in their battle for a fair pay rise and progress on their demands for improved workplace practices. We urge the management of Guardian Australia to urgently listen to its workers and seek solutions to the issues they are raising, and avoid the impending prospect of a damaging round of industrial action.