Nine Publishing journalists return to work today; campaign for quality journalism continues
Journalists at Nine Publishing mastheads will return to work this morning from a five day strike and are ready to resume negotiations with management.
Members of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WAtoday will enter their newsrooms en masse at 11am but have vowed to continue their campaign of protected industrial action until management offers them a fair enterprise agreement.
Management has indicated it is prepared to meet with union representatives once journalists are back at their desks.
MEAA members began the protected five day strike last Friday in response to an inadequate offer from management.
Since the strike began, they have been heartened by the enormous support from readers and journalists at other media organisations around the nation.
Freelance contributors will also resume filing from 11am today.
The acting Director of MEAA Media, Michelle Rae, said the strike had been effective in forcing management to return to the bargaining table and in raising awareness about the crisis Nine’s management has plunged the mastheads into by cutting up to 90 editorial jobs.
“This strike has always been about the future of quality journalism at these esteemed mastheads.
“Workers are demanding quality jobs for all journalists, whether on staff or freelancers; safeguards around the use of Artificial Intelligence so that audiences can be confident the journalism they read has been produced ethically; and a commitment to diverse newsrooms that are representative of the Australian society they report on.
“It is overdue for Nine’s chief executive Mike Sneesby to listen to the concerns of MEAA members that independent and fearless journalism that holds power to account requires investment and support from management.
“Sneesby and his fellow executives need to get their priorities in order by recognising there is no financial bottom line without a strong journalistic frontline. The belligerence of management leading up to and during this strike has damaged the company’s reputation.
“We congratulate all MEAA members for their determination and solidarity during this strike and now look forward to constructive negotiations with management to win a fair deal so journalists can get back to what they do best: informing the public, holding the powerful to account, and exposing wrongdoing.”
Nine Publishing journalists return to work today; campaign for quality journalism continues
Last update: July 31, 2024
