ABC staff walk off the job

ABC employees have walked out for the first time in 17 years.

During an announcement on ABC Radio Sydney, the presenter said: ‘Industrial measures are currently being taken by ABC staff. It may affect some of your regular programs throughout the day.”

The national broadcaster receives more than $1 billion in government funding each year.

Taxpayers have taken to social media to express their anger at the strike.

“Have the ABC go on indefinite hiatus and then fire them all. We would save a lot of tax money and lose nothing at all.’

Pictured is ABC’s headquarters in Ultimo, Sydney

On Tuesday night, journalists’ union MEAA waived planned industrial action by 1,000 staff after ABC management agreed to draft a new employment contract.

But broadcasters from the Community and Public Sector Union said they were still going ahead with the strike in protest at management’s handling of the talks.

‘For the CPSU, [it] is about showing the ABC’s management that our members are angry about the disrespect they’ve been shown,” said CPSU’s Sinddy Ealy.

“ABC management can’t throw CPSU members off course, now or ever.”

Hundreds of CPSU employees in the ABC’s technology and control systems are believed to be walking away from work between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

It is the first time that ABC staff has gone on strike since 2006, when management had to intervene to produce and present news bulletins.

The MEAA said they canceled their strike action after ABC executive David Anderson stepped in to take charge of the talks and try to reach a compromise.

“Clearly, the threat of industrial action has helped focus the minds of ABC’s management, as well as the support of ABC viewers and listeners for our members,” media director Cassie Derrick said.

“It was a turning point to bring David Anderson directly into the negotiations after months of management resistance.

“ABC management needs to start rebuilding trust with its staff now.”