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Workers at The Age<\/em> (and other Fairfax publications) have done gone on strike:<\/p>\n Fairfax Media journalists in Australia stage four-day strike<\/p>\n SYDNEY (AFP) \u2014 Journalists working for Australia’s second largest press group, Fairfax Media, on Thursday launched a four-day day strike to protest at plans to axe 550 jobs, staff and their union said.<\/p>\n Journalists at the company, which publishes the flagship Sydney Morning Herald<\/em> and The Age<\/em> newspapers, walked out two days after bosses said they were slashing five percent of the workforce to save 50 million dollars (43 million US)…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Funnily enough, the job cuts come at a time of fat profits for Fairfax: “Fairfax last week announced a 46.8 percent jump in net profit to 386.9 million dollars for 2007-08 on the back of a strong performance from its online businesses.”<\/p>\n And while the union is on strike, scabs are being used to produce what is likely to be a large number of unsold copies of this weekend’s newspapers:<\/p>\n Fairfax strike-breakers take over as staff walk out<\/a> FAIRFAX Media will use strike-breakers to publish its flagship newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald<\/em>, The Age<\/em> and The Australian Financial Review<\/em> in a high-stakes battle with staff after journalists yesterday walked out until Monday in protest at 550 planned job cuts. A group of specially trained staff was put into action on Fairfax papers last night to ensure production could proceed…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Printers @ Fairfax are displaying their solidarity with management by staying on the job: “Australian Manufacturers and Workers Union national print secretary Steve Walsh said the union was monitoring the situation but his members would keep working” (Fairfax printers to work through strike<\/a>, AAP, August 29, 2008). Although it’s possible that, with enough political pressure, printers might be persuaded to join the striking journalists; it’s likely that most workers would be reluctant to cross a picket line.<\/p>\n Finally, in a move that’s unlikely to win them much support — aka<\/em> a PR blunder — poor old bloody Mike Carlton has lost his job for acting in solidarity with striking journalists by failing to submit a column:<\/p>\n Striking columnist Mike Carlton sacked<\/a> RADIO broadcaster and Sydney Morning Herald<\/em> columnist Mike Carlton has been sacked for refusing to write his weekly column during a strike. Carlton, a member of the journalists’ union, the MEAA, took the stand on the grounds that filing the column amounted to crossing a picket line. Carlton does the breakfast show on 2UE, owned by Fairfax Radio. A Fairfax spokeswoman confirmed Carlton had his contract to write a column for the Saturday Sydney Morning Heral<\/em>d terminated because of his refusal to write…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n There’s presumably a picket line down on Spencer Street, which members of the public are free to visit and to show support. In the meantime, I just hope hackers don’t launch some kinda DDOS attack on Fairfax’s online services.<\/p>\n That would be just plain wrong, and cause management all kinda headaches.<\/p>\n Workers at The Age (and other Fairfax publications) have done gone on strike: Fairfax Media journalists in Australia stage four-day strike SYDNEY (AFP) \u2014 Journalists working for Australia’s second largest press group, Fairfax Media, on Thursday launched a four-day day … Continue reading
\nBrad Norington
\nThe Australian<\/em>
\nAugust 29, 2008<\/p>\n
\nThe Australian<\/em>
\nAugust 29, 2008<\/p>\nFor further info, see<\/em> : Fair go, Fairfax: Don’t discount journalism<\/a><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"