Fairfax Regional Media is considering a union proposal that will keep 40 sub-editing roles within Australia, after last week's strike over plans to outsource jobs to New Zealand.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has proposed Fairfax use an in-house, multi-platform ‘sub hub’ rather than move 66 editorial production roles to Fairfax Editorial Services in New Zealand.
Under the MEAA proposal, the sub-editors forming the sub hub would work across multiple Fairfax Regional Media mastheads and platforms, providing support to all forms of content. The hub would see about 40 staff in place of the existing 66.
The proposal would see the roles based in Newcastle and the Illawarra in NSW, where the nine community mastheads affected by Fairfax’s plans are based.
The titles affected are The Illawarra Mercury, The Newcastle Herald, The Lake Times, The Kiama Independent, The Newcastle Star, The Myall Coast Nota, The Port Stephens Examiner and The Lakes Mail.
“Given the experience and known skills of existing staff, it should be possible to operate in Newcastle/Wollongong with fewer staff numbers than New Zealand,” the MEAA said in a statement. “A geographic base maintained in Newcastle and Wollongong will strengthen the community connection of the papers with their regions and so financially strengthen the company.
“This is because commitment and engagement with the communities of the Hunter and the Illawarra depends on journalists embedded in and understanding those communities.”
The MEAA believes its “in-sourcing model” is more cost-effective than Fairfax’s plans to move 66 roles to Fairfax Editorial Services in New Zealand as it does not involve the cost of redeploying staff.
“The talks [with the MEAA] were constructive and productive,” Fairfax Regional Media chief executive and publisher Allan Browne said. “The company asked the MEAA a number of questions about the proposal they put forward. We engaged in discussion about the MEAA proposal and addressed key concerns the MEAA had about the company’s proposal.”
Fairfax’s offshoring announcement last week triggered a strike, with journalists from The Age, The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun-Herald, The Illawarra Mercury and The Newcastle Herald walking off the job for 36 hours.
Discussions between Fairfax and the MEAA will resume on Tuesday 12 June when Fairfax expects to make its final decision.
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