MEAA members at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WA Today have accepted an improved offer in their long running enterprise bargaining negotiations with Nine Publishing which owns these mastheads.
This afternoon, journalists, sub-editors, photographers and cartoonists agreed to a deal which includes a 4% wage increase in 2022 and a 3.5% increase in 2023 as well as expanded career progression meaning many lower and mid-tier graded journalists will now and in coming years also receive an additional increase of up to 5%.
This is over and above the $1750 "recognition bonus" Nine recently paid to staff.
Beyond this, members won a diversity clause in their new agreement, an improved working from home clause and improved parental leave. Interns will also be paid for the first time.
Nine Publishing has also committed to displaying its Charter of Editorial Independence on the company's website and intranet and agreed to develop a policy providing a set of minimums for its freelance contributors.
Adam Portelli, Director of MEAA Media said: "MEAA members today achieved an impressive result securing strong increases, particularly for younger staff who now have a system of career progression and additional increases baked into the agreement. This agreement now provides the industry benchmark for these career progression increases.
"Journalists have provided an essential service over the last few years, keeping us informed through the pandemic, bushfire and floods. It's only fair their role has been recognised in this agreement.
"Members wanted a fair increase, their commitment to ethics respected and a more diverse newsroom.
"Freelancers in particular deserve more certainty in their working lives, and we will continue our campaign to ensure that contributors - at Nine and elsewhere - are provided with minimum standards."
