95bFM Stuff journalists strike over 'inadequate pay'
December 2, 2022
By Stella Huggins and Joe Wickins
Photo: 95bFM.
Listen to the full interview here
On Wednesday afternoon, employees at Stuff walked off the job over "inadequate pay".
E Tū union members at the news organisation picketed outside the Stuff offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton.
95bFM News spoke to union members yesterday while they protested.
“I’m hoping that we don’t have to strike for long. It actually breaks my heart that we have to do this because I really like the work that I do. But the reality is, it’s getting harder to afford to live,” said a staff member.
Union organiser for the event from E tū, Michael Gilchrist told Stella Huggins on 95bFM's The Wire that they are starting with relatively low key action, taking two hours of their shift off work.
“Stuff journalists are suffering from an increase in the cost of living and a long history of very low payment. Journalists in New Zealand are generally low paid.”
The union is seeking a minimum pay of $55,000 a year, a switch to a system that would see journalists automatically progress to a higher level on a pay scale each year, and a minimum 7.25% pay rise to match inflation except on any sum earnt over $100,000 a year.
Gilchrist said that Stuff agreed to the first two demands and offered a pay rise that for E tū members would average out at 7%, with larger rises strongly weighted towards those on lower pay.
TVNZ journalists accepted a pay increase of around 5.5% in their negotiations this year, while RNZ’s journalists accepted 7%, with an added increase for weekend reporters.
Gilchrist added that Stuff's journalism is incredibly important in New Zealand and needs more recognition.
“Journalists operate at a high ethical standard and provide an incredibly vital service to our democracy. We can’t function unless we have that information, and Stuff is a central part of how we receive the information that we need on a daily basis."
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