Otago Daily Times Allied Press journalists strike in Dunedin, Invercargill over pay

The Otago Daily Times is a Dunedin institution, but a trade union says its pay is seriously behind the times. Photo / Google

Journalists at Allied Press walked off the job today in a rare strike.

And this afternoon, union members who distribute the newspapers have also voted to strike for 24 hours.

The E tū union this morning said more than 40 members from Dunedin to Invercargill would join the day-long strike action.

They are protesting against the Otago Daily Times publisher’s offer for a new collective agreement.

Allied Press said its newspapers would still be published and it had made a new offer to the union yesterday. Non-union staff are continuing to work.

“Union members are pursuing a decent pay rise that will bring their wages into line with industry pay rates,” E tū said this morning.

The union later announced print distribution workers would strike from 5pm today to 5pm tomorrow.

“Like journalism members, they are also pursuing a decent pay rise that will bring their wages into line with industry pay rates,” the union said.

E tū organiser Ann Galloway told the Herald further strike action could not be ruled out.

“That decision will be down to the members. They’ve been moved to actually take action. It means they’re really very angry.”

Asked if the newspaper would still be produced, Galloway said: “I’m sure they’ll cobble together something. Obviously, they’re not going to tell us.”

She said journalism was generally not well-paid, but Allied Press unionised staff had been receiving increases well below the Consumers Price Index.

Some employees at the Dunedin metropolitan daily paper say pay has been abysmal. Photo / Supplied

Allied Press said it tabled a new offer to the union yesterday which it believed addressed their concerns.

“We offered to meet with the union this week, which they have declined so far. We are willing to meet with them when they are ready.”

The company was asked about union claims staff had insufficient training and resources.

“The editorial team are a key part of the Allied Press team and do a great job for us. As a business, we are committed to providing appropriate training for our staff.”

The company said newspapers and online news coverage would continue despite the strike.

It said it had offered more than the union suggested and had offered some staff the equivalent of 9 per cent.

ODT union delegate and journalist Rebecca Fox said pay rises for members over the past 15 years had fallen behind inflation and behind other media companies.

“We recognise how tough the media industry and the ODT [have] it at the moment, but it can’t be an excuse for unliveable wages.

“Other players in the industry are getting 5 to 6 per cent pay increases. Our last one was 2 per cent.”

Some members had more than 20 years’ experience but were barely on $70,000, Fox said.

The average advertised salary for all workers in Otago was $70,977 in the latest Trade Me Jobs report.

Fox said Allied Press journalists had struggled for years with a lack of training and resources.

Allied Press also publishes the Mountain Scene, Ōamaru Mail, Hokitika Guardian, Greymouth Star and several other South Island newspapers.

Journalism educator Jim Tucker said over the decades, industrial disputes flared up at news publishers.

But he added: “Actual strike action was unusual.”

E tū and Herald publisher NZME agreed on a 5 per cent pay increase this year.

Stuff’s unionised employees went on strike late last year.

Herald journalists belonging to the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union went on strike in 2001 when negotiations over collective employment contracts broke down.

A strike at the Herald in 2001 led publishers to share a lengthy missive with readers. The company claimed the journalists' union wanted a national multi-employer agreement and a "return to the days of wage demands backed by national newspaper strikes". Image / NZME

That strike was contentious, and the company published a lengthy statement in the paper decrying strike action.

The Herald reported at the time that the newspaper’s production was unaffected.

John Weekes is online business editor. He has covered courts, politics, crime and consumer affairs. He rejoined the Herald in 2020, previously working at Stuff and News Regional, Australia.