The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has written directly to News Corp Australia executive chairman, Michael Miller, asking for greater transparency on the company’s restructure and staff affected.
The MEAA said in the letter that in recent announcements to staff, News Corp has raised the spectre of significant cost cutting including the reorganisation of the companies’ divisions, major changes in reporting lines and reduction of staff numbers.
"This announcement was made to staff and then followed up with a complete lack of information of exactly how this would impact them," said the letter, which requested a reply from Miller by 5PM tomorrow.
Last week, up to 80 of the media company's sales roles were reported to be going, with those roles less senior than the ones made redundant in the first round, which included Lisa Muxworthy, Michael Desiere, Michael Wilkins and Marcus Hooke.
The MEAA said it is of "significant concern" that this cost cutting will result in a further reduction in journalist numbers.
"The total lack of information and consultation is completely unacceptable to our members and entirely inconsistent with the company’s obligations to its staff," the union said.
The MEAA's letter said that it required News Corp to immediately meet with MEAA and the MEAA News Corp House Committee to engage in appropriate consultation; and brief editorial staff on the possible cost savings and impacts to their futures.
"Should News Corp continue to be derelict in its obligations to staff, MEAA members may be required to consider the taking of appropriate steps afforded to them under the Fair Work Act 2009," said the letter.
All editorial staff at News Corp are voting this week on whether to accept an offer from management for a one-year enterprise bargaining agreement extension with a 3.5% pay rise.
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