Nine Newspapers journalists to go on five-day strike during the Paris Olympics amid growing frustration with Mike Sneesby
Hundreds of journalists could quit their jobs within days unless they can reach a last-minute deal with their employers.
Journalists from Nine Publishing – which includes the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Australian Financial Review – voted overwhelmingly on Monday to launch a five-day strike starting on Friday, a decision that could impact coverage of the first weekend of the Paris Olympics.
On the other side of the world, Nine CEO Mike Sneesby was spotted running through the streets of the French capital on Monday, proudly holding the Olympic flame.
Reporters at the scene said Sneesby enjoyed the attention of the adoring crowd, pausing to take selfies and allowing fans to touch the torch before he was quickly led away.
Earlier this month, he came under fire when he flew to Greece with his family for a week-long holiday, hours after the media company cut 200 jobs.
Nearly half of these jobs are expected to be lost in print media, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Australian Financial Review.
The cuts prompted an overwhelming vote of no confidence in Mr Sneesby by members of the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance at Nine Publishing.
More than 90 percent of Nine Publishing’s unionized journalists voted on Monday to take strike action if they cannot reach a new works agreement in the coming days.
Nine journalists from Publishing, including staff from The Age (pictured during an earlier strike), could go on strike this Friday
Nine boss Mike Sneesby (pictured with his wife Ursula) is currently in Paris for the Olympic Games
The threatened strike is in response to the company’s refusal to offer a fair price that would yield a higher wage increase than the CPI, an audit into pay diversity, quotas and protections against the use of AI, the MEAA said.
“The company failed to take into account cost-of-living pressures in its salary offer and management failed to address other claims made by journalists, including a genuine commitment to greater gender and cultural diversity in the workplace, improvements to career opportunities, and protections through consultation on AI,” the statement said.
‘These mastheads are strong financial performers and are known for their award-winning journalism. Nine needs to invest in its editorial frontline before focusing on its financial results.’
Nine bought the broadcast rights to the Summer and Winter Olympics in a $305 million deal that runs through to the 2032 Games in Brisbane.
At least 17 employees covering the Paris Olympics are reportedly facing redundancies if a new deal is not reached by Friday.
The Media Entertainment Arts Media Arts Entertainment Alliance has urged Nine to invest in its editorial frontline before its financial bottom line. Pictured are workers on a previous strike
“The decision to strike was not taken lightly, as an event like the Olympic Games only takes place once every four years,” the MEAA said.
‘Members regret the disruption the strike may cause.’
The union urged management to resolve the issues when the two sides meet again on Wednesday during the negotiating session.
An anonymous employee claimed that Mr Sneesby’s recent Greek holiday was similar to Scott Morrison’s infamous decision to take his family on holiday to Hawaii during the devastating bushfires of the Black Summer of 2019-20.