Journalists at Australia’s national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, have staged their first strike in 20 years, walking off the job in a dispute over pay, working conditions and concerns about the potential use of artificial intelligence. Get today's headlines by email Hundreds of staff stopped work for 24 hours from Wednesday morning after a majority of union members rejected a pay offer they said failed to keep pace with rising living costs. The strike has led to significant disruption across the broadcaster’s output. Walkout disrupts major programmesFlagship programmes, including the evening current affairs show 7.30 and key breakfast broadcasts, are not airing as scheduled. In their place, audiences are being served reruns, pre-recorded segments and some international content. Radio stations such as Triple J and ABC Classic are also operating with reduced live programming, relying largely on music playlists during the stoppage. Pay dispute and contract concernsAt the centre of the dispute is a proposed pay deal offering a total increase of 10% over three years. This includes a 3.5% rise in the first year, followed by smaller increments in subsequent years. However, staff argue the offer falls short of inflation, which stood at 3.8% in January. A one-off bonus payment was also proposed, though it would exclude casual workers, who make up a significant share of the workforce. The offer was rejected by around 60% of participating union members, triggering industrial action. Workers are also calling for improved pay for unsociable hours, clearer career progression and a reduction in reliance on temporary contracts. Concerns about job security have been heightened by the broadcaster’s refusal to rule out the future use of AI technologies in its operations. Management defends offerABC managing director Hugh Marks said the proposal represented the highest level of pay increase the publicly funded organisation could afford. He described the offer as “financially responsible” and competitive within the media sector, adding that it balanced multiple financial pressures faced by the organisation. Despite this, union representatives argue the package does not adequately reflect the cost-of-living challenges facing employees or the importance of public service journalism. Staff voice uncertainty over futureDemonstrations were held outside ABC offices in Sydney and Melbourne, where several hundred workers gathered to show support for the strike. Veteran journalist David Marr described public broadcasting as vital to the future of journalism, warning it must offer fair wages and job security to retain talent. Some employees, particularly those on short-term contracts, expressed anxiety about speaking publicly, citing fears over job stability. One worker said she was weighing up leaving for a permanent role elsewhere despite considering her current position a “dream job”. Unions representing staff, including the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, have called on management to return to negotiations. The dispute is expected to be referred to the Fair Work Commission as both sides seek a resolution. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25
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