ABC issue new pay offer after historic walkout

The ABC has made a new pay offer to staff following a landmark 24-hour walkout.

About 2000 staff from the national broadcaster walked off the job last week after negotiations over pay, conditions, and the use of AI broke down.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks subsequently met with delegates from the Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) this week at the Fair Work Commission.

An updated offer was then provided by the broadcaster on Tuesday, including provisions to ensure staff progress through pay bandings and increased pay above inflation for one year of the three-year agreement, according to the ABC.

An ABC spokesperson on Tuesday said: “The proposed agreement includes an annual pay increase of four per cent in the first year and 3.25 per cent in each of the second and third years, with back pay to the first full pay period after October 1, 2025.”

“It also delivers clearer progression pathways between pay bands, targeted performance bonuses, retention of existing promotion provisions and enhanced leave entitlements,” the spokesperson continued.

Both unions will now consult with members before a vote on whether to accept the proposal.

Broadcasts were widely disrupted last week as a result of the walkout, including the BBC being broadcast on the ABC’s 24-hour news service in-place of the usual programming.

It came after the unions rejected an earlier proposed agreement which they claimed included only limited improvements to job security and no increase to pay or key conditions compared with the previous offer.