Reporters at one of Australia’s major media outlets are striking over pay and conditions as Nine insists its Paris Olympics coverage will not be impacted by the walkout.
Journalists employed by Nine Publishing, including union members covering the Games in Paris, began a five-day strike on Friday after rejecting a revised enterprise bargaining offer from management.
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance members from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, the Brisbane Times and WAtoday walked off the job from 11am AEST.
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After months-long negotiations, union members voted to reject the company’s latest offer, saying it “fails to include a fair pay rise that keeps ahead of the cost of living”.
Union official Michelle Rae said Nine journalists were being asked to do more for less.
“Journalists have asked for a modest wage increase in line with the CPI after foregoing any pay rise during COVID and at a time when the company is making record profits,” she said.
Nine in June confirmed it would cut 200 roles, or about 4 per cent of its almost 5000 staff — a decision it attributed to the loss of a lucrative content deal with Meta and a slump in advertising.
“It’s totally unacceptable the company is asking workers to make a choice between a modest pay rise and the possibility of more job cuts,” Rae said.
The strike will include the opening weekend of the Paris Olympics.
Nine has sent a large contingent of staff to cover the event, having paid a reported $305 million for the broadcast rights to the next five Games.
Sneesby declines to comment
Nine CEO Mike Sneesby is currently staying in boutique hotel Le Pavillon de la Reine in Paris.
Documents obtained by 7NEWS show his stay costs almost $2500 a night.
Sneesby was also included in a leg of the Olympic torch relay in the outskirts of Paris, a privilege given to him as the company holds rights to airing the games in Australia from 2024 to 2032.
When asked about whether this was appropriate given the strike, he said: “Look guys, (I’ve) just got back from dinner and it’s not really the time to have a chat.”
He then did not respond when asked again if it was appropriate for him to stay in the boutique hotel after mass redundancies at the media company and while staff were striking.
“Why don’t you stop and have a chat to us now?” a 7NEWS reporter asked him.
“Because I’m meeting my family,” Sneesby said.
“You’re the boss of a media business here for work, or are you here on a holiday with your family?” the reporter questioned.
Sneesby did not respond and walked away.
In a statement, Nine defended its latest proposal as a fair and reasonable offer and said comprehensive plans were in place to ensure coverage of the Paris Olympics.
“Nine recognises the rights of unions to take industrial action but believe that a return to the negotiating table is the best way to progress the EBA,” a company spokesperson told AAP.
Source : 7news.com.au