Nine journalists’ strike to go ahead on Olympics opening weekend over pay, diversity disputes

Nine Newspaper journalists are set to walk off the job ahead of the opening weekend of the Olympics amid ongoing disputes over pay rises and workplace diversity.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) on Thursday confirmed staff at the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review, WA Today and The Brisbane Times would proceed with Friday’s planned strike.

The union said staff on Monday “overwhelmingly” voted to strike for five days, including the opening weekend of the Paris Olympic Games, after Nine was unable to reach a fair pay deal.

Nine Entertainment is the official broadcaster of the 2024 Games, reportedly paying up to $120 million for the broadcast rights.

The strike comes as the Games opens this weekend, placing cross-platform coverage in jeopardy, with newspaper staff currently in Paris reportedly part of the strike action.

Just hours after his staff voted to strike, Nine boss Mike Sneesby was pictured in France carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of a town outside Paris.

MEAA is pushing for a bigger pay rise than the 2.5 per cent offered, as well as a diversity pay audit and quotas, and protection against the use of AI.

Staff are planning to strike from 11am Friday, with rallies being planned for outside each of Nine’s offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

A MEAA spokesperson said union representatives had met with Nine management and were willing to meet again on Thursday if they wanted to come to the table.

“The ball is in management’s court to make an improved offer to staff that addresses not only pay, but workplace diversity, the use of AI and the conditions under which freelancers are employed,” they told 7NEWS.com.au.

“Industrial action began this morning with members taking protected action by using social media to inform readers about the EBA deadlock.”

The strike comes off the back of Nine announcing it would axe about 200 roles across the business.

“From our nationwide team of almost 5000 people, around 200 jobs are expected to be affected across Nine including some vacant and casual roles not being filled,” Sneesby said in an email to staff last month, before heading off on holiday in Greece for a week.

Nine publications the Australian Financial Review reported between 70 and 90 of those would be at its publishing business, which includes The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Another 38 jobs would be cut from TV news and current affairs, with the remainder from corporate and digital, the report said.

Within days, union members at Nine’s mastheads passed a motion of no confidence in Sneesby.

The union said the strike was overwhelmingly approved by members, with more than 90 per cent supporting the move at a protected action ballot on Friday.

MEAA Media director Michelle Rae said the company’s pay offer failed to acknowledge cost of living pressures and management had not dealt with other claims from journalists.

“These mastheads are strong financial performers and have a reputation for award-winning journalism, and Nine needs to invest in its editorial front line ahead of its financial bottom line,” Rae said.

“The decision to go on strike was not made lightly, as an event like the Olympics only comes along once every four years.

“Members regret the disruption the industrial action may cause.”