Led by the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, about 60 percent of nearly 1,000 voting staff rejected management’s three-year offer of 10 percent total pay rises plus a $1,000 bonus, citing inflation around 3.8 percent, job insecurity, and cuts to penalties.
Programming disruptions included no News Breakfast, BBC replacements for 7.30 and AM, and music-only shifts on Triple J.
ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks called the deal balanced to protect services and sought Fair Work Commission intervention, while unions stressed staff prefer working but need fair pay and security.
