ABC staffers’ plans for a protest over working conditions and pay have been postponed after an improved offer was made.
Employees planned to stage a 40-minute stop-work action on Tuesday, March 7, at 2 pm – to coincide with the RBA’s interest rate announcement – the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Among the issues, staff were protesting for a transparent reported gender and race pay gap audit, penalty rates for overtime, and career progression for junior staff.
Many even took to Twitter using #dontdiscountABC to highlight their cause with the public.
Among those who took to the platform was Dan Ziffer, presenter of The Business, who said: “I love the ABC and I’m proud to work here, serving the Australian public. We’ve been fighting for genuine improvements to progression so people can see sustainable careers ahead of them. Back our bid to make Aunty stronger and fairer. #DontDiscountABC @withMEAA.”
ABC social affairs correspondent Norman Hermant tweeted: “Working for the #ABC is a privilege. But @abcnews is losing early & mid-career journalists who just can’t make the financial math work. They’re stuck on low pay grades and despite stellar performance, they can’t move up. Time to fix this. #DontDiscountABC @withMEAA.”
South East Asian correspondent Avani Dias wrote: “As a WOC, I’m immensely proud to work at the ABC but I want to see transparency on the racial and gender pay gap. For too many years, we have been losing talented and skilled staff of diverse backgrounds who aren’t being supported in our organisation. #DontDiscountABC.”
Rachel Pupazzoni, reporter and presenter for The Business, said: “My dream was to work @abcnews & I’m proud to have done for 17 yrs. But I’ve been stuck at pay/band ceilings + underpaid & fought to have that fixed + worked shift hrs + travelled away from family + $$ for professional counselling. Please treat us better #DontDiscountABC @withMEAA.”
The broadcaster’s managing director David Anderson made an improved offer.
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance media director Cassie Derrick told the publication: “Members are encouraged that the new offer hears their concerns on gender and race pay gaps and buyouts and comes some way to addressing claims on progression and a fair pay rise.”
“It does not satisfy all of employees’ demands and there is still work to be done, but there is no doubt the pressure from union members has led to this better offer from ABC managing director David Anderson after his executives refused to negotiate for weeks,” she added.