ABC Staff Win 10.5% Pay Rise After Historic Strike

When more than 1,000 ABC journalists and staff walked off the job in March, they silenced one of Australia's most trusted news sources for 24 hours. Today, their unity paid off in a decisive win.

ABC staff voted overwhelmingly to accept a new enterprise agreement offering 10.5% pay rises over three years, with back pay dating to October 2025. More than 90% of participating workers approved the deal, bringing closure to a dispute that stretched across nine challenging months.

The breakthrough came after unions rejected an initial offer they deemed unfair. Workers wanted more than the original 3.5% first-year increase, which sat below inflation rates. Their historic 24-hour strike in March sent a clear message about their value to Australian audiences.

The revised agreement bumps first-year raises to 4%, followed by 3.25% in years two and three. It also creates new pathways for staff to advance through pay levels, addressing long-term career concerns that money alone couldn't fix.

During the strike, ABC screens showed BBC reruns and parliamentary footage instead of beloved programs like the nightly news and 7.30. Managing Director Hugh Marks apologized to viewers as the absence of regular staff highlighted just how essential these workers are to quality journalism.

Fair Work Commission mediators helped broker the final deal just days after the strike. The talks required both sides to move from entrenched positions, ultimately landing on terms that recognized worker contributions while respecting budget realities.

The Ripple Effect

This victory reaches far beyond individual paychecks. Secure, fairly compensated staff means better journalism for millions of Australians who rely on the ABC for independent news. Regional communities especially benefit when experienced journalists can afford to stay in public broadcasting rather than leaving for higher-paying corporate roles.

Union leaders celebrated the outcome as proof that collective action still works. MEAA chief Erin Madeley noted the decisive vote "reflected the determination and unity of ABC workers across the country." CPSU's Jocelyn Gammie emphasized that people who inform and educate Australians deserve proper recognition.

Marks struck a conciliatory tone after the vote, calling it "an opportunity for the organisation to work more effectively" between management and staff representatives. The path forward focuses on serving all Australians through a united, forward-looking public broadcaster.

The 70.6% voter participation rate showed strong engagement across ABC workplaces nationwide. Workers valued their public broadcasting mission enough to stand together when it mattered most, and Australian audiences supported them throughout the campaign.