Fairfax Strike Ends With "Agreement"

On Monday 1 September, Fairfax media workers returned to work after what the MEAA describe as a "enterprise bargaining breakthrough".

During their four day strike, the media workers were involved in rallies at their various workplaces. Threats by management were made, but these were overcome by many journalists and other media workers unafraid to stand up to corporate interest.

The four days opened doors for people advocating for media reform in this country, in the limited space that is allocated outside the mainstream, and it will be interesting to see how the new dynamics in the media continue to evolve. One thing is for sure though, while media continues to put corporate interest, above all else, there will always be a reason to fight it. Our problem is coming together and being able to effectively advocate the changes we need and grow a wider movement around it.

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Fairfax Workers Strike Kicks Off

Fairfax media workers have not taken the attack on their industry lying down. Today workers, in newspapers like the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Financial Review, have decided to strike until Monday.

Already this has resulted in a sharp fall in the Fairfax media share price. But the cost for the 550 workers, including a substential number of editorial positions, is clearly going to be a lot larger.

Regional Papers, like the Newcastle Herald and the Wollongong Mercury, are likely to proportionally be the hardest hit. It is perhaps a sign of the times ahead that today the Age and SMH featured stories from their respective cities zoos on their front page.