Thousands of ABC staff walk off the job in 20-year first as BBC replaces shows
Updated . First published at
Thousands of ABC staff have walked off the job for the first time in 20 years today as the national broadcaster's shows were replaced by the BBC.
Journalists and staff began participating in a 24-hour protected strike for greater pay and job security at 11am AEDT.
At the hour, the ABC began streaming content from the UK-based broadcaster BBC.
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At the hour, the ABC began streaming content from the UK-based broadcaster BBC. ABC
The ABC confirmed BBC content will replace local shows while flagship TV and radio programs - 7.30, AM, PM, The World Today and Radio National Breakfast - will be off air until 11am AEDT tomorrow.
Emergency broadcasting services will remain on air.
The coverage on the ABC website and social media platforms will also be affected.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks apologised to audiences and remaining staff for the disruption.
"On behalf of the ABC, I feel terrible," he told ABC Sydney.
"We will be using BBC content where that's appropriate, so we will be maintaining services, but they won't be the standard I would like to be on air."
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The ABC website told readers coverage would be affected by the industrial action. ABC
The strike comes after about 60 per cent of ABC staff rejected the broadcaster's latest pay offer of a 10 per cent rise over three years and a $1000 sign-on bonus.
They overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action with unions citing their "frustration" over the pay dispute.
The ABC employs about 4500, with 1000 of those participating in the vote for industrial action.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance chief executive Erin Madeley called on the ABC to put forward a pay offer that reflects the "value of ABC staff and protects the future of Australia's public broadcaster".
"Experienced journalists and media workers are being asked to do more with less – with fewer opportunities for pay progression, less certainty about their future, and growing workloads," she said earlier this week.
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The ABC said a compromised staff account led to the breach earlier today. Christopher Pearce
"This isn't just a workforce issue. When skilled, experienced staff are forced out, communities lose trusted local voices, particularly in regional Australia where the ABC is often the only local newsroom."
In a statement earlier this week, Marks said he believed the pay offer was "both sustainable and financially responsible".
"I understand that in the current climate, higher pay would help many individuals, but we must also remain focused on the long-term sustainability of the ABC and its relevance to all Australians," he said.
"It is a balance. No one has provided any evidence to me to suggest ABC staff are paid less than industry standards."
The last time the ABC staff were on strike was over pay and employment conditions in 2006.
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