Journalists at Nine Entertainment mastheads return to work this morning following a five day strike over a pay dispute.
Members of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WAtoday are due back in newsrooms at 11am.
However, they 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.
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,” she said.
“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.”
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