Thousands of ABC journalists and staff members plan to walk off the job on Wednesday at 11 a.m., threatening hours-long blackouts on live radio and television broadcasts amid an escalating pay dispute.

Vote Rejects Latest Offer

Workers delivered a strong rebuke to the national broadcaster’s newest pay proposal, with 60 percent voting against it. ABC Chief People Officer Deena Amorelli announced the results in an email to staff on Monday. Of the 75.6 percent of eligible staff who participated, the offer fell short by 395 votes.

This action marks the first major walkout by ABC staff in two decades over pay issues, set to last 24 hours and disrupt broadcast operations significantly.

Staff Highlight Job Insecurity

ABC journalist Ahmed Yussuf shared his experiences on X on March 20, emphasizing the fight for stable employment. “Before becoming a permanent staff member at the ABC, I had about nine contracts in the space of three years with contracts spanning between 10 months, to as short as one month,” Yussuf stated. “I am among the lucky ones who has been able to find permanent stable employment—not all my colleagues have been. It’s meant we’ve lost so many talented people who cannot sustain that insecurity.”

Hannah Story, a writer in the ABC’s Arts division, described the precarious nature of roles at the broadcaster. “Since I started with the ABC on a short-term contract five years ago, my team has been restructured out of existence—not once, but twice,” she posted on X. “Twice the ABC has made explicit how little it values specialist arts and entertainment journalism and the dedicated people who make it.”

Unions Involved

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) represent the striking ABC staff.